URGENT ACTION NEEDED IN SCOTLAND
The Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences Bill (Scotland)
The above Bill is currently before the Scottish Parliament. Section 2(3) would make anyone who communicates anything of a sexual nature to a person aged under 16 liable for a ‘Risk of Sexual Harm Order’. Although the Executive maintains that this is a civil order, it is a measure with serious implications, and breaching it can attract a 5-year prison sentence.
The General Teaching Council has made strenuous objections, para 143
and the Scottish Police Federation has recommended that s14 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (England & Wales) para 26 is adopted. This would give protection to anyone giving genuine advice and information to protect a child’s health or emotional well-being.
The Executive is offering assurances that an order wouldn’t be made against anyone advising or educating a child, but this isn’t good enough. If they don’t intend that well-intentioned teachers, parents, youth-workers and medical staff should be given an RSHO, the law must say so.
The Bill can be viewed here
The ARCH briefing document can be viewed here
** Write to your MSP expressing your concern, and asking that parents and professionals are given the same protection in Scotland as in England and Wales. The Scottish Bill must incorporate the same protection as s14 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (England and Wales)**
**Do it straight away! This section of the Bill will be debated in Justice 1 Committee on April 27th**