Rotherham MP backs calls to close grooming 'loophole'

Rotherham's MP Sarah Champion has backed calls for a change in the law that allows adults in positions of trust to have sex with teenagers aged 16 and 17 in their care.
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The Close the Loop campaign, started by the NSPCC and backed by a cross-party group of MPs, is putting pressure on the government to make it a crime for adults in positions of trust, such as driving instructors, faith leaders and sports coaches to have sex with teenagers over the age of consent in their care.

Currently, it is a crime for teachers, social workers and other professionals legally in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care.

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The charity wants the law to be extended to also cover adults who could abuse their role, such as sports coaches, faith leaders and driving instructors, to protect teenagers from being preyed upon as soon as they turn 16.

Sarah Champion MP Sarah Champion MP
Sarah Champion MP

A brave survivor who was manipulated into having sex with her swimming coach when she turned 16 has written a letter to the Lord Chancellor, as a review into the position of trust law is due to be released.

In her letter, the survivor urges the Ministry of Justice to extend the law to protect teenagers from predatory behaviour by those in a position of trust.

In the letter, Hannah*, a determined swimmer, explained how her coach, Jeff*, who’s close to her parents’ age, abused his position of power over her.

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Hannah began to confide in Jeff during her eight training sessions a week about difficulties she was having aged 15.

Jeff waited until she was 16, then began to compliment on her appearance and pushed the limits of their relationship, before legally having sex with her.

When things ended with Jeff*, she told someone she trusted who made a referral and she was questioned by police but he couldn’t be charged because of the loophole.

"Jeff was always pushing the boundaries but staying on the right side of the line. Initially he would just give me a hug. Then one day he gave me a hug and put his hand on my bottom. Jeff spent a long time making me feel comfortable.

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"This was my first sexual experience but when this relationship came tumbling down, I changed with it. I was left feeling really angry, I was a difficult person to be around. It took me a long time to trust friends and family, to let them hug me."

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The letter comes as a review into the positions of trust law is due to be released by the Ministry of Justice in the coming weeks.

It was launched following pressure from the NSPCC after the Government backtracked on plans to close this legal loophole in 2018.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said: “The law is there to protect our children and ensure those who groom or abuse them are brought to justice. However, currently – and some might say, unbelievably – there are hundreds of adults in positions of power and influence over teenagers to whom the law does not apply.

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“The vast majority of people in those positions have nothing in mind except helping 16 and 17-year-olds enjoy their favourite pastimes or pass an exam. Sadly, there are others who would seek to use their roles to target these young people and they do so with the knowledge that there is currently no legal consequence to their actions – actions which could change the lives of their victims forever.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said: “It’s unacceptable that gaps in our law mean that teenagers are protected from predatory behaviour in the classroom, but not on the sports pitch.

“Young people should never be expected to fend off the sexual advances of adults, and yet the loophole means that 16 and 17-year-olds have to do just that, whilst their abusers are let off the hook.

“This is a significant moment for the Ministry of Justice to listen to those who were affected and safeguarding experts to Close the Loophole and make it clear that sexual abuse is never tolerable.”

*Names changed

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