Daniel Pelka's Law

[outsider]

Daniel Pelka's law to better protect vulnerable children moves a step closer:
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/daniel-pelkas-law- better-protect-8037704

'If law is approved it would become a criminal offence for someone working with vulnerable children to not report suspicions of abuse.

Daniel Pelka’s law has moved a step closer to becoming a reality after a 12-week consultation was announced.

The review was confirmed in the House of Lords amid continued pressure on the government to introduce mandatory reporting in regulated settings.

If approved it would become a criminal offence for someone working with vulnerable children to not report suspicions of abuse.

If found guilty a person could face a prison sentence of up to three years.

An incredible 188,000 people have signed a petition calling on the proposal to be made law and in the House of Lords Conservative peer Lord Bates revealed that a consultation would begin “as soon as possible”.

He said: “The government recognise concerns about the current safeguarding system. We are not complacent about that.

“We understand the public’s anxiety, which has been raised by members, about the potential under-reporting of abuse and the scale of it.

“It is right that we should take further time to listen to the views of all those with an interest - those who will be directly affected by such a measure of mandatory reporting.”

The matter had been first raised in the House by Lib Dem peer Baroness Walmsley, who introduced a mandatory reporting amendment to a law currently being debated.

That amendment was withdrawn once the consultation was announced.

She said: “I am most grateful to all those who have supported my amendment. It may not be perfect, but it has resulted in the statement that we have just heard from the government, which is a major step forward.”

She also rebuffed claims that mandatory reporting has led to a huge increase in malicious reports when it has been introduced elsewhere.

Since Daniel’s killers from Coventry were jailed for a minimum of 30 years campaigners, led by Manchester mum Paula Barrow, have been calling on the government to change the law.

A serious case review into Daniel’s death highlighted numerous missed opportunities to save the youngster, who was starved and tortured during a campaign of abuse.

His killers have launched appeals.'