This petition was submitted during the 2019 to 2024 Parliament
Rejected petition Children 0 - 6 years should not have to disclose sexual abuse to police directly
Rejected on
Change policy surrounding the way evidence is used when prosecuting the perpetrators of sexual abuse. When young children disclose abuse to people they know and trust (eg, family members and nursery workers) the CPS should take their witness statements as evidence to prosecute abusers.
Even when several witness statements are provided and there is some form of medical physical evidence of sexual abuse young children are encouraged to disclose abuse to the police. What the child says in the police interview influences the final decision whether to prosecute abusers. Despite, other evidence. It is unfair to pressure young children to speak to strangers (police) in an unfamiliar environment. Carer's are not allowed in the interview room too but the abuser is allowed a solicitor!
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
Petitions must call for a specific action that the UK Government or Parliament are directly responsible for.
Decisions about when, and on what evidence, to prosecute someone for child sexual offences are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service, not the Government or Parliament.
Children, or their parents, can already decline to speak directly to the police about allegations of child sexual offences.
You can find out how to report child abuse, and get support here: https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.