‘Romeo and Juliet’ clause exempts teachers from reporting consensual teen sex

A so-called “Romeo and Juliet” clause has been added to new plans for mandatory reporting of concerns around child sexual abuse.
The Crime and Policing Bill puts a new duty on teachers, GPs, and other professionals to report concerns or face criminal sanctions.
Mandatory reporting was one of the 20 recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) following the grooming gangs scandal.
However, an exclusion has been added for consensual sexual relationships between teenagers over 13 years old, as long as there are no concerns around harm.
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet were fictional teenage lovers, whose forbidden romance ended in tragedy, but who have become synonymous with youthful love.

Source: BBC | Language: English