Protocol may breach human rights

The London Child Protection Committee’s interim protocol for professionals working with sexually active young people is likely to breach the European Convention on Human Rights, a leading human rights lawyer said this week.

Stephen Grosz, a partner at London solicitors Bindmans, said that the protocol was likely to breach the right to respect for private life under Article 8 of the convention.

According to the protocol, professionals should carry out an assessment on young people aged under-18 who are sexually active to establish if there are any safeguarding issues. If they fear the young person is at risk they then must share information with other professionals.

It  also states that professionals should consider checking with the police to find out whether the sexual partner of a children under 18, is having or has had, other “concerning relationships” with children or young people.

Barry Quirk, chair of the London Child Protection Committee, said that the committee would examine the legal opinion at its next meeting in January.

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