‘Romeo and Juliet’ clause exempts lecturers reporting consensual teen intercourse

A so-called “Romeo and Juliet” clause has been added to new plans for obligatory reporting of issues round youngster sexual abuse.

The Crime and Policing Invoice places a brand new responsibility on lecturers, GPs, and different professionals to report issues or face legal sanctions.

Obligatory reporting was one of many 20 suggestions of the Unbiased Inquiry into Baby Sexual Abuse (IICSA) following the grooming gangs scandal.

Nonetheless, an exclusion has been added for consensual sexual relationships between youngsters over 13 years outdated, so long as there aren’t any issues round hurt.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet had been fictional teenage lovers, whose forbidden romance led to tragedy, however who’ve change into synonymous with youthful love.

Labour’s Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, who put ahead the modification throughout a committee listening to on the invoice, stated she wished to offer “some discretion” in a restricted variety of conditions ” to keep away from unintentional penalties”.

Phillips stated: “This avoids conditions comparable to two kissing youngsters having to be reported to the authorities by a trainer who is aware of them each effectively…

“Nor can we wish to discourage younger folks from accessing providers which might be designed to supply help in addressing their very own dangerous sexual behaviour.”

The clause wouldn’t apply if both youngster was aged underneath 13 years outdated, if there was suspicion of coercion or abuse, or if there was a big distinction in age or maturity.

Responding within the debate, Conservative MP Harriet Cross backed the clause, which she stated recognised that age variations had been necessary in these relationships.

“For instance, if a 14-year-old lady is sexually concerned with a 17-year-old boy, even when she says she has consented, a trainer or grownup may rightly really feel uneasy concerning the energy dynamic and the potential impression of grooming,” she stated. “The grownup may determine that it’s acceptable to report in that case.

“However, two 14-year-olds would doubtless fall underneath the exemption.”

Cross stated it will permit professionals to make use of their judgement – however careworn the bar for not reporting needs to be excessive.

“It recognises that not all sexual exercise involving under-18s is a trigger for alarm or state intervention,” she stated.

“Particularly, it lets professionals chorus from reporting consensual sexual exercise between older youngsters after they consider there is no such thing as a abuse or exploitation at play – it’s principally a Romeo and Juliet exemption.

“…The exemption will not be about condoning under-age intercourse, it’s about proportionality.”