The Ministry of Justice has written to the NSPCC stating that the Government believes current laws on the age of consent and on non-consensual sexual activity already provide adequate protection for 16 and 17-year-olds from exploitation by the adults who work with them. It’s currently illegal for some groups of professionals, like teachers, care workers and youth justice staff, to be involved in sexual activity with a 16 or 17-year-old child under their supervision. The NSPCC Trust to Lead campaign has been calling for this to be extended to other adults working with children, including sports coaches. The sports minister Tracey Crouch had previously announced in November 2017 that the then Department for Culture Media and Sport and the Ministry of Justice had agreed that Abuse of position of trust legislation would be extended to sports coaches.
Source: NSPCC: Government U-turn on pledge to protect young people in sport
Date: 08 August 2018
Further information: NSPCC Trust to Lead campaign
