Historical Sexual Abuse in Football

Lord Paddick Excerpts

Tuesday 29th November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

The normal contact for someone with an allegation is the police. Since this has come out, 250 people have already contacted the police in England and Wales. The Secretary of State’s letter went out to all sports bodies, telling them that they need to look at their governance to make sure they have the appropriate safeguards in place. The governance code which came out in October covers these points. It will be important for sports bodies to make sure that they are complying with the things the noble Lord mentioned: if they do not, they will not get funding in future.

[Lord Paddick (LD)]

Does the Minister agree that it is important to make a distinction between professional coaches, who have such power over young people in terms of determining their future in the sport, and volunteers who do not have such a degree of influence?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

Could the noble Lord repeat the beginning of his question? I had somebody speaking in my ear.

[Lord Paddick]

Does the Minister agree that a distinction needs to be made between professional coaches, who have a considerable amount of power over young people in terms of determining their future in the sport, and volunteers who do not have such influence?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

The noble Lord makes a good point. That is one of the things that will be covered by the FA when it has its inquiry.