Mandatory Reporting - the Legal Case for Change

In this article Peter Garsden (Principal, QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden & President of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers) examines the issues surrounding a change in the law, what presently exists around the world and brings forward concrete proposals for improving the existing statutory framework. Peter is a practicing solicitor who specialises in representing victims and survivors of child sex abuse. He is also part of the MandateNow campaign which advocates mandatory reporting. His article gives the perspective of the practitioner who works in this field and, by contrasting the approach in the UK with the approach in other jurisdictions, he argues forcefully for mandatory reporting.