NSPCC insist covering up abuse should be criminal offence

Covering-up child abuse should be made a criminal offence, says the head of the NSPCC Peter Wanless.

The child protection charity’s chief executive, who is leading a review into how the Home Office handled historical allegations of child abuse by MPs, says those who cover up such offences should face automatic prosecution.

He also argues that staff at institutions such as hospitals, children’s homes and boarding schools should be contractually obliged to report abuse.

The charity boss tells the BBC: “If someone consciously knows that there is a crime committed against a child, and does nothing about it because they put the reputation of the organisation above the safety of that child, that should be a criminal offence.”

This marks a significant shift in policy by the NSPCC, which has previously opposed all forms of mandatory reporting. As recently as March, it argued that “criminal sanction against those who hesitate is unfair”.

Lawyer Liz Dux, who represents 176 victims of disgraced television personality Jimmy Savile, has welcomed the NSPCC’s turnaround. She said: “The NSPCC’s backing for mandatory reporting is a welcome and significant moment in our fight to protect future children from predators like Savile, Harris, Smith and Hall.”

BASW’s England Manager Maris Stratulis said: “Our starting point must always be what best protects children from harm.

“It is totally unacceptable for institutions to attempt to cover up abuse of children to protect their reputation and we would absolutely agree with the NSPCC on this issue. It also contravenes regulatory requirements and good practice.

“This, however, is not the same as introducing mandatory reporting which is something that needs further debate because it may not always be in the best interest of the child, as the NSPCC acknowledges.

“Further discussion is also needed about what constitutes the legal threshold of individual and corporate responsibility, since institutions have differing structures of governance and accountability.

“Whatever changes are put in place, it is vital that we create a culture in which children are listened to and social workers are given the time and resource to effectively support children and families.”

Wanless is heading an inquiry into concerns that the Home Office failed to act on allegations of child sex abuse by MPs in the past. The allegations were contained in a dossier handed over in the 1980s by former Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens.

A separate, independent inquiry, to examine historical sexual abuse and institutions’ protection of children, will be led by retired senior judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.