Regulated and Other Activities (Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse) Bill [HL]

Lord Moynihan Excerpts

2nd reading
Friday 17th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Moynihan (Con)]

My Lords, the importance of mandatory reporting of sexual abuse in sport has been campaigned for by the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, and me for many decades. Our work together on safeguarding in sport goes back to the 1990s, and I warmly congratulate her on introducing the Bill. I also celebrate her lifetime commitment on behalf of those young people and their parents who love sport and expect the best for their children. I thank the right reverend Prelate for an important and very moving contribution to today’s debate.

We know there is a lack of communication between sporting bodies, police and local authorities around child sexual abuse, safeguarding and the need for mandatory reporting to place an obligation on individuals and the bodies delivering sport and recreation to report concerns of sexual abuse to the appropriate authorities. The noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson, and I have both campaigned for a sports ombudsman, in part to fulfil that role.

The Government’s guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, recognised that in paid and volunteer sport staff needed to be aware of their responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children—and they are manifold. However, we must take cognisance of the Whyte review, which exposed a problem that extends far beyond gymnastics. We read with sickening realism the tragedy of sexual abuse that took place within our national game of football, as referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Mann.

In her report, Anne Whyte found an “unacceptable” culture and concluded that between 2008 and 2020, there was a failure to put the welfare of participants at the centre of gymnastics, particularly elite gymnastics. There was also a culture that meant the gymnastics community felt unable to raise their concerns. I wonder how many more sporting scandals will occur before we have legislation for mandatory reporting on the statute book. We must never lose sight in sport of the position of authority and control which the sports coach exercises: emotional, physical and verbal abuse, weight-shaming, physical isolation and grooming have too often been used, justified and hidden under a sickening mantra of “Well, that’s what it takes to be the best”. It is not. It must never be tolerated.

Women in sport were right to fight, believe in and call for an independent body for safeguarding and duty of care in sport. The Lords National Plan for Sport and Recreation Committee was right in its recommendation that:

“Given the potential for abuse in sport and recreation settings, we recommend that the Minister for Sport, Health and Wellbeing consult and work with the sector to introduce mandatory reporting in sport and recreation settings”.


The proposal came from widespread evidence that the time is right to act now.

I appreciate that Private Members’ Bills are important in their own right. However, they are also important because they can trigger responses from government. This is one vital area of safeguarding that needs addressing, either here or in another Bill. I feel nothing but a sense of urgency underpinned by humility and respect in speaking to this subject in support of the Bill from the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson.