“I knew he was dodgy”. A Case for Mandatory Reporting in Sport

TW: Sexual abuse and maltreatment

In the weeks following the guilty plea of my former coach to 18 charges of indecent assault of young girls, dating back to the 1970s, I was bombarded with messages. From other coaches, volunteers, staff, and parents of young athletes from across the UK, a disturbing common thread emerged?: “I knew he was dodgy”. 

Others said they “kept [their] daughter away from him”, “I always suspected something was up”, and “He said very inappropriate things to my daughter”. 

In news reports from people who knew him at the time, they said his behaviour was “common knowledge” and students knew to “never go into [his] sports equipment cupboard.”

As a young athlete myself, they were hard messages to receive. But now looking back, the most concerning part is that it took a breaking news story to compel  people to disclose concerns for child welfare. 

I may be wrong, but I have always thought that someone, somewhere, must have seen something, must have heard something. And just maybe, could have had the chance to say something - if they were empowered and had the right tools to do so. Just maybe, another child could have been protected from abuse. Perhaps they did, and it was ignored or swept under the rug. 

“someone, somewhere, must have seen something, must have heard something. ”

This is by no means a unique story. We have heard countless stories of people failing to report maltreatment because they didn’t know how to, or because the welfare officer at a club was a good friend of the family. Others often feared that there would be repercussions for their children’s athletic careers. 

Reading this, you may be asking why these people didn’t have a legal duty to report suspected child abuse. 

And the answer? There is no mandatory duty to report witnessed or suspected child sexual abuse in the U.K. 

So, what is mandatory reporting? 

Mandatory reporting laws require certain professionals to report concerts of child abuse and neglect. These laws often extend to teachers, medical professionals, and those who provide activities for children such as in sports clubs. 

As it stands, the UK lags behind the rest of the world, with the vast majority of other countries having some type of mandatory reporting legislation. In fact, around 80% of countries worldwide have mandatory reporting in place. 

The UK may be about to step in line. 

Baroness Grey-Thompson has introduced a mandatory reporting bill for child sex abuse in the House of Lords. The bill extends to those with a duty of care in sport. 

So far, the bill has gained support from many Lords and Baronesses, and has passed through to the Committee stage in the House of Lords. It is a long way off becoming law, as it still needs to make its way through the Lords and the Commons. 

Additionally, in response to the much needed attention to grooming gangs,  Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, promised to introduce mandatory reporting in the Crime and Policing (2025) Bill.

How can mandatory reporting make sport safer?

The main benefit of mandatory reporting is the potential to prevent further abuse to the child in the instance of abuse, but also to prevent the abuser from moving on to another victim. It has been estimated that seven out of eight victims of a perpetrator are not known to the authorities at the time of reporting.

Unfortunately, we cannot stop all abuse, but early detection and intervention is key to reduce and prevent harms. The symptoms of abuse last much, much longer than the moment the abuse happens. The impact of abuse on mental health is well documented, but survivors often struggle with severe mental and physical health issues, face financial and economic barriers throughout their lives, struggle with platonic and romantic relationships, and are more likely to fall out of education and employment. 

If we have a chance to stop this abuse and suffering in its tracks, people with a duty of care should be legally mandated to act. Silence should never be an option.

“If we have a chance to stop this abuse and suffering in its tracks, people with a duty of care should be legally mandated to act.”

Mandatory reporting can also identify children who require urgent physical and mental health support. Many children do not disclose their abuse. The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies estimates that 85% of child sexual abuse goes undetected and unreported, with survivors taking an average of 26 years to disclose what has happened to them. Mandatory reporting helps ensure that abuse is recognised earlier, enabling children to access the right support quickly and begin their journey toward safety and healing.

A mandate to report also raises awareness by the training provided to individuals to recognise signs of abuse, such as physical, emotional, or behavioral changes. It promotes vigilance and accountability, fostering a culture of protection and support for vulnerable populations.

What are the concerns about mandatory reporting?

Like any transformative policy, mandatory reporting can bring challenges.

Some fear the rise of malicious reporting or false accusations. However, evidence from Australia shows that while mandatory reporting increased child sexual abuse disclosures, there was no surge in false claims.  It's important to remember that justice relies on robust safeguarding systems to investigate and address reported harms, not on the intent of individual reporters.

Another concern is the potential loss of autonomy for victims. Some worry that automatic referrals to authorities might discourage people from seeking help. This highlights the need for survivor-centered approaches that prioritise trust and empowerment. Victims should feel supported, not sidelined, by the systems meant to protect them.

A third challenge lies in training. Without adequate preparation, professionals may misidentify or mishandle suspected abuse. Thorough education and resources are essential to ensure mandatory reporting is implemented with care, competence, and consistency.

Mandatory reporting isn’t a silver bullet. It is a piece of the puzzle of a more robust and preventative safeguarding system. 

For it to work properly, it requires: 

• Training in understanding the signs of abuse for all people working in the sports sector, including parents and athletes 

• Consistent care and support provisions for survivors of abuse 

• Age appropriate sex and healthy relationship education in schools for all children

• Rigorous reporting systems that are effective and user-friendly 

• A licensing scheme and register for coaches 

• Life-time bans for coaches found guilty of abuse 

The bottom line is: Children often can’t stop abuse - but adults with a duty of care can - and they must. 

You can read more about our recommendations in our ‘Manifesto for the Future of Safe Sport’.