Cameron: Jail for social workers, teachers and councilors who fail to highlight sex abuse

Cameron’s directive came amid mounting evidence of public authorities' failure to report sex abuse.

11:36 04 March 2015

David Cameron has announced that jail time will be given to social workers, teachers, and councilors should they be proven to fail to report sexual assault on children.

The move came as mounting evidence of public authorities' failure to report sex abuse surfaced. According to official figures, more than 1,400 young girls fell victim to paedophile gangs mainly of Pakistani background over 16 years of age.

Mr Cameron is expected to say: “I’m sending an unequivocal message that professionals who fail to protect children will be held properly accountable and council bosses who preside over such catastrophic failure will not see rewards for that failure. Offenders must no longer be able to use the system to hide their despicable activities.”

Reports confirmed that a new national whistleblowing helpline will be set up to encourage more people to raise concerns about suspected abuse. 

Police officers and social services in Oxfordshire are expected to be highly criticised after reports confirmed that more than 300 boys and girls under their jurisdiction were abused in the last 15 years.