The Government is facing increasing pressure to implement mandatory reporting for suspected cases of child sexual abuse. This comes after athlete-turned-broadcaster Charlie Webster received an overwhelming response following her documentary on athletics. Webster, who herself was abused by her coach Paul North at the age of 15, has been flooded with messages from both men and women, spanning across different age groups, who have shared their experiences of abuse by coaches and the prevailing culture of cover-up in British sports. Alongside survivors who are now ready to speak out, Webster has also been contacted by four additional individuals with stories of North’s abuse. However, she has encountered attempts by a small group of “known abusers” to silence her.
Kyniska Advocacy, an organization advocating for a safe environment for women in sports, has recently highlighted and reported inappropriate and offensive messages on social media originating from individuals within the athletics community. Webster has also received messages from individuals who have experienced abuse in swimming, karate, and gymnastics. She notes a recurring pattern of victims being ignored and facing a culture of fear and concealment.
These abusive coaches are able to move between clubs or even different sports, continuously preying on new victims. Currently, there is no legal obligation for individuals working with children to report suspicions of child abuse to the police. Webster argues that mandatory reporting is essential in cases where there is no willingness to voluntarily report suspicions. Many governing bodies are handling these issues internally, but it is important to recognize that these are criminal acts that should be reported to the authorities.
The potential for coaches to leave before facing consequences, such as being barred from coaching, is concerning. Even temporary bans of one year may not be sufficient deterrents. Additionally, there are loopholes in the system, such as gaps in background checks (DBS checks) and the lack of information sharing protocols. Webster asserts that a comprehensive revision of the DBS checks and recording procedures is necessary to address these shortcomings.
Webster’s documentary, titled “Nowhere to Run: Abused by Our Coach,” chronicles her quest to locate former teammates and friends from her running group in Sheffield. In 2014, Webster publicly disclosed her experience of abuse at the hands of her coach.
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