With the CARoyalComm recommending MR of #CSA disclosed in confession, the subject is discussed in NI which has had a blunt form of #MR since 2005 via Section 5(1) of the Criminal Law Act (1967). It provides a criminal offence of failing to disclose an arrestable offence to the police which de facto includes most offences against children.

@MsDingle seems keen to put #CSA back in the box. She says 'abuse is in the past' and 'figures of abuse are relentlessly exaggerated.' Sexual abuse is an obsession with 'sex.'

"Why are you calling them survivors - did they nearly die? No!"

'I'm all for the prosecution of people who are guilty of horrendous sex crimes against young people.' 

If they are 'guilty of the crime then a prosecution has already occurred.' How is guilt otherwise proven?

Donald ("anything but mandatory reporting") Findlater has been repeating the same ineffective narrative for >15 years and somehow getting paid for it. Retirement beckons.

An intense interview. Where's Welby?

It is now known there are at least 87 victims of Smyth's beatings. The Iwere network could have stopped Smyth anytime in the last 36 years. You can read more here : https://bit.ly/2w5ob6b

IICSA's suggestion is disconnected from reality. It's either suffering a form of gaze aversion or has a tangible non-appreciation of the culture that pervades these settings. A point made by Mandate Now to the inquiry's head of research earlier this year, but to no avail.

Nonetheless, it is good to finally have someone appear on the media who is speaking for the inquiry in an official capacity.

#MR is essential as empirical data shows. Without #MR there is no accountability. But it delivers so much more that assists good staff and safeguards pupils. A separation in governance will not stop the temptation to not report.

Why has it taken so long for abuse to surface? asks John Humphrys. Because there is no mandatory reporting law in Regulated Activities, unlike 86% of Europe.

There can be no assured improvement to safeguarding culture in these settings without the introduction of mandatory reporting.

Scorer states the Church is the perfect cover for abuse and that Bishops were ideal accomplices to Ball's abusive behaviour. No Mandatory Reporting meant letters (of evidence) were concealed. 

Scorer expressed concern at the way HRH Prince Charles has submitted 'evidence' to IICSA. He also criticised the Prince for not being aware of the significance of Ball's police 'caution' for abuse which was well publicised at the time.

Fiona Scolding QC, responds to Scorer's points on HRH Prince Charles explaining what the inquiry has done in an attempt to address the unusual approach taken by HRH Prince Charles and his legal advisors.