The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is “dismayed” at the findings of a recent BBC investigation (9 July) which identified 164 cases of sports coaches engaging in sexual activity with 16- or 17-year olds in their care since 2016.
The Oldham Liberal Democrats proposed a motion to the September 2019 meeting of Oldham Council demanding the Government “close this loophole” in the Sexual Offences Act, making this a criminal offence, as it is with teachers.
Commenting on the investigation, Councillor Sykes said: “It is incredibly sad and disturbing that despite the announcement of then Sports Minister Tracey Crouch that a change in the law had been agreed, three years on this Government has still not amended the Sexual Offences Act to make this a crime. Whilst our young people continue to be abused by adults in authority whom they trust, the Ministry of Justice continues to backpedal saying only that the necessary change in legislation is under review.”
Members of Parliament from across all parties share the view of the Oldham Liberal Democrats that a change in the law is long overdue.
Councillor Sykes added: “Enough is enough. It is time for this government to put the welfare of our young people front and centre and immediately put this change in the law on our statute books. Anything less means our young people continue to be put at risk.”
Oldham Council September 11, 2019 – Closing the Loophole
This Council believes that our duty to protect our young people is paramount. Any chance of a slippage in the law that leaves young people unsafe or at threat of exploitation must be rectified.
Council notes that:
- The NSPCC (the National Society for the Protection of Children against Cruelty) has recently reported that in the last four years police in England have recorded 1,025 crimes of Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature
- The present legislation on Position of Trust makes it a criminal offence for teachers, care workers and youth justice workers to engage in sexual activity with 16/17-year olds in their care, but faith workers, youth workers and sports coaches are currently exempted
- Councils have received 653 complaints about adults who are not currently covered by the criminal law engaging in sexual activity with children in their care.
This Council believes that the Government should:
- Extend the Position of Trust law to include all roles where an adult holds a position of power over 16 and 17-year-olds
- Make it illegal for any adult to have sexual activity with a young person under 18 in their care.
As this accords with the objectives of the NSPCC’s ‘Closing the Loophole’ campaign, Council agrees to give the campaign its support, and resolves to:
- Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of the NSPCC to register this Council’s support for the campaign
- Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Minister of Justice and of Sport urging them to introduce the necessary change in legislation
- Ask the Chief Executive to copy into this correspondence the Mayor of Greater Manchester and our local Members of Parliament seeking their support for the Council’s position and for the NSPCC campaign
Proposed by: Councillor Diane Williamson, Seconded by: Councillor Chris Gloster
ONLINE BBC SPORT ARTICLE