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| NSPCC wants covering-up abuse to be criminal offence | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The man leading a review into how the Home Office handled historical allegations of child abuse has said people who cover up such crimes should be prosecuted. | |
| NSPCC chief Peter Wanless also said there should be a duty on institutions like hospitals, children's homes and boarding schools to report abuse. | NSPCC chief Peter Wanless also said there should be a duty on institutions like hospitals, children's homes and boarding schools to report abuse. |
| The charity had previously opposed all forms of so-called mandatory reporting. | The charity had previously opposed all forms of so-called mandatory reporting. |
| New inquiries into child abuse could consider possible law changes. | New inquiries into child abuse could consider possible law changes. |
| Mr Wanless, the chief executive of the NSPCC, is heading a review looking at concerns that the Home Office failed to act on allegations of child sex abuse contained in a dossier handed over in the 1980s by former Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens. | Mr Wanless, the chief executive of the NSPCC, is heading a review looking at concerns that the Home Office failed to act on allegations of child sex abuse contained in a dossier handed over in the 1980s by former Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens. |
| Another independent inquiry, looking at historical sexual abuse and institutions' protection of children, will be led by retired senior judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss. | Another independent inquiry, looking at historical sexual abuse and institutions' protection of children, will be led by retired senior judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss. |
| Meanwhile, a former West Mercia Police officer has told the BBC he saw documents in the 1990s suggesting the existence of a paedophile network involving public officials and clergy. | Meanwhile, a former West Mercia Police officer has told the BBC he saw documents in the 1990s suggesting the existence of a paedophile network involving public officials and clergy. |
| Terry Shutt was involved in the 1992 arrest of Peter Righton, a founding member of the Paedophile Information Exchange who was convicted of importing child pornography. | Terry Shutt was involved in the 1992 arrest of Peter Righton, a founding member of the Paedophile Information Exchange who was convicted of importing child pornography. |
| Mr Shutt, a former detective constable, told the BBC that five suitcases of letters found when Righton's home was raided pointed to a paedophile network - but that important leads were not followed. | Mr Shutt, a former detective constable, told the BBC that five suitcases of letters found when Righton's home was raided pointed to a paedophile network - but that important leads were not followed. |
| The Metropolitan Police said it could not comment on the case but a police source from the time said it was "nonsense" to say the investigation was closed down. | The Metropolitan Police said it could not comment on the case but a police source from the time said it was "nonsense" to say the investigation was closed down. |
| Mr Shutt's comments are among a number of claims relating to the alleged activities of child abusers dating back to the 1960s. | Mr Shutt's comments are among a number of claims relating to the alleged activities of child abusers dating back to the 1960s. |
| Timeline: Historical child abuse claims | Timeline: Historical child abuse claims |
| 1982-84: Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens says he plans to expose eight prominent figures as paedophiles. He also gives files to then Home Secretary Leon Brittan, who passes them to officials | 1982-84: Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens says he plans to expose eight prominent figures as paedophiles. He also gives files to then Home Secretary Leon Brittan, who passes them to officials |
| 1994: Peter McKelvie, a child protection manager, is one of the first to raise claims that powerful people, including politicians, are among those involved in child sex abuse | 1994: Peter McKelvie, a child protection manager, is one of the first to raise claims that powerful people, including politicians, are among those involved in child sex abuse |
| Feb 2013: The Home Office reviews hundreds of thousands of files, searching for information it received about organised child sex abuse | Feb 2013: The Home Office reviews hundreds of thousands of files, searching for information it received about organised child sex abuse |
| August 2013: The Home Office says copies of Mr Dickens's material were "not retained" but that Lord Brittan acted appropriately in dealing with the allegations | August 2013: The Home Office says copies of Mr Dickens's material were "not retained" but that Lord Brittan acted appropriately in dealing with the allegations |
| 1 July 2014: Labour MP Simon Danczuk demands to know what Lord Brittan did with the files from Mr Dickens | 1 July 2014: Labour MP Simon Danczuk demands to know what Lord Brittan did with the files from Mr Dickens |
| 2 July 2014: Lord Brittan says he passed the papers to officials | 2 July 2014: Lord Brittan says he passed the papers to officials |
| 4 July 2014: Prime Minister David Cameron orders a senior civil servant to look again at the 2013 Home Office review | 4 July 2014: Prime Minister David Cameron orders a senior civil servant to look again at the 2013 Home Office review |
| 7 July 2014: Lord Brittan dismisses claims he failed to act appropriately. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May announces two reviews of historical child sex abuse allegations - one into the way public bodies handled claims and the other into the Home Office's handling of paedophilia allegations | 7 July 2014: Lord Brittan dismisses claims he failed to act appropriately. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May announces two reviews of historical child sex abuse allegations - one into the way public bodies handled claims and the other into the Home Office's handling of paedophilia allegations |
| Home Secretary Theresa May has said Baroness Butler-Sloss's review will examine the case for mandatory reporting. | Home Secretary Theresa May has said Baroness Butler-Sloss's review will examine the case for mandatory reporting. |
| 'Growing consensus' | 'Growing consensus' |
| Mr Wanless told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "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." | Mr Wanless told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "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." |
| The NSPCC would be open to discussions about what form the new law should take, he added. | The NSPCC would be open to discussions about what form the new law should take, he added. |
| In many other countries, including the US, Australia and France, people can be prosecuted for covering up abuse. | In many other countries, including the US, Australia and France, people can be prosecuted for covering up abuse. |
| In Britain, child protection organisations - including the NSPCC - have traditionally felt there was no need for such a law. | In Britain, child protection organisations - including the NSPCC - have traditionally felt there was no need for such a law. |
| The charity said boarding schools, residential care homes and hospitals should have to pass information on to the police or the local authority, rather than just investigate themselves. | The charity said boarding schools, residential care homes and hospitals should have to pass information on to the police or the local authority, rather than just investigate themselves. |
| Last year Sir Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, became the first senior legal figure to call for a law which would require all institutions to report allegations to an outside body. | Last year Sir Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, became the first senior legal figure to call for a law which would require all institutions to report allegations to an outside body. |
| He said: "There is now a growing consensus that mandatory reporting should be introduced. This shift in position is significant. The real challenge now is to devise a model that works in practice." | He said: "There is now a growing consensus that mandatory reporting should be introduced. This shift in position is significant. The real challenge now is to devise a model that works in practice." |
| Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said "I think this is a really significant U-turn for the NSPCC and hugely welcome - it's a big step in the right direction." | Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said "I think this is a really significant U-turn for the NSPCC and hugely welcome - it's a big step in the right direction." |
| In the last year churches and the children's commissioner have expressed their support for mandatory reporting. Education Secretary Michael Gove was opposed to it but said victims had made a compelling case for it, and he is currently reviewing the law. | In the last year churches and the children's commissioner have expressed their support for mandatory reporting. Education Secretary Michael Gove was opposed to it but said victims had made a compelling case for it, and he is currently reviewing the law. |
| In the meantime, Liberal Democrat peer Lady Walmsley has proposed an amendment to the Serious Crimes Bill, to be discussed later this month, which would make reporting of sexual abuse or physical abuse mandatory for all institutions. | In the meantime, Liberal Democrat peer Lady Walmsley has proposed an amendment to the Serious Crimes Bill, to be discussed later this month, which would make reporting of sexual abuse or physical abuse mandatory for all institutions. |