It seems that the Welsh government has
passed legislation that will have the effect of placing an obligation on
professionals to report any child believed to be at risk of abuse or neglect.
An important difference exists between this
provision and some of the laws suggested by campaign groups for England. In
Wales there does not appear to be any form of criminal offence associated with
failing in the duty to report.
In contrast the so-called “Walmsley amendment” (to the Serious Crime
Bill) which was withdrawn in the House of Lords when the Government promised to look
into the question of mandatory reporting in England, is a much
more Draconian proposal than the Welsh law. It includes a possible three year
prison sentence for failing to report.
My objection to mandatory reporting is that it has the
potential to introduce yet more fear and blame into child protection work. That
is likely to result in the opposite of the intended consequences. After a
tragedy, rather than admitting to a wrong decision or mistaken perception, the
possibility of years in jail is likely to make some people remain very
tight-lipped indeed. So what went wrong will never be known and children will be less,
not more, safe.
