Trusted adults use status to abuse Notts children

Forty-five offences involving adults abusing positions of trust to have sexual contact with children in their care have been recorded in Nottinghamshire over the last six years, official data shows.
The NSPCC fear the true extent of abuse is much worseThe NSPCC fear the true extent of abuse is much worse
The NSPCC fear the true extent of abuse is much worse

But the NSPCC fears the true extent of abuse is much worse, because the law doesn’t apply to youth work roles such as sports coaches and leaders of religious groups.

There has been a 57 per cent increase in recorded abuse of position of trust offences in England and Wales where professionals such as teachers or care staff have sexual contact with 16 or 17-year-old children they work with. In total, 1,290 offences have been recorded since 2011/12.

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The NSPCC’s #TrustToLead campaign is calling for laws on ‘position of trust’ to be extended, to better protect children in sport and other youth activities.

A legal loophole means adults with regular and intense contact with children in sport and other activities are able to groom them from a young age, and abuse that trusting relationship to have sexual contact as soon as the child turns 16.

NSPCC head of policy Almudena Lara said: “Safeguarding in children’s clubs should not end suddenly at 16. The NSPCC has been told of a number of cases where in sports and other youth work settings, leaders have used their position to groom children, and then take advantage of them as soon as they turn 16.   

“It is baffling that sports coaches and other youth workers are not deemed to be in a position of trust, given the significant responsibility, influence and authority that adults in these roles have over the children they are there to look after.”