The Ministry of Justice has announced the Positions of Trust law, which currently applies in England and Wales to roles like teachers and social workers, will be extended as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to protect teenagers from abuse by making it illegal for sports coaches and religious leaders from engaging in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care.
The new legislation follows the long standing ‘Close the Loophole’ campaign by the NSPCC. Separately, the Home Office has published a series of factsheets giving details of the measures contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 including a factsheet on the extension of the positions of trust provisions to include those that lead activities in sporting and religious settings.
Source: NSPCC
Date: March 2021