A new “Romeo and Juliet” clause has been introduced into the Crime and Policing Bill, which sets out a legal requirement for professionals such as teachers and GPs to report concerns about child sexual abuse – or face potential criminal charges.
The move follows one of the 20 recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), launched in the wake of the grooming gang scandals, which called for mandatory reporting of abuse concerns by those in positions of trust.
During a recent committee hearing, MPs agreed to include a narrowly-defined exemption – commonly referred to as the “Romeo and Juliet clause” – allowing some discretion when it comes to consensual sexual relationships between teenagers over the age of 13, provided there are no concerns about harm, exploitation, or abuse.
The name of the clause draws on Shakespeare’s iconic teenage lovers, whose tragic romance has become a symbol of youthful, though often forbidden, love.
Labour’s Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, who proposed the amendment, explained that it was designed to avoid punishing normal teenage behaviour and to allow professionals to use judgement in specific cases. Phillips said:
“This avoids situations such as two kissing teenagers having to be reported to the authorities by a teacher who knows them both well. Nor do we want to discourage young people from accessing services that are designed to offer support in addressing their own harmful sexual behaviour.”
The exemption does not apply if either young person is under 13, if coercion or abuse is suspected, or if there is a significant imbalance in age or maturity between the individuals.
Conservative MP Harriet Cross voiced her support for the amendment, saying it offered a balanced approach that acknowledged the nuances of teenage relationships.
“For example, if a 14-year-old girl is sexually involved with a 17-year-old boy, even if she says she has consented, a teacher or adult might rightly feel uneasy about the power dynamic and the possible impact of grooming. The adult might decide that it is appropriate to report in that case. On the other hand, two 14-year-olds would likely fall under the exemption.”
She emphasised that professionals must still exercise caution and that the threshold for choosing not to report should remain high.
Cross concluded by stating the measure is not about endorsing under-age sex, but about ensuring a proportionate response that avoids criminalising normal adolescent experiences.
