UK Government faces mounting pressure to Close the Loophole allowing adults to have sex with teenagers they supervise

• Currently sports coaches, faith leaders, and cadet leaders are legally allowed to have sex with 16 and 17-year olds in their care
• Thousands of people, Christina Rees MP and Welsh Rugby Union have thrown their weight behind NSPCC’s Close the Loophole campaign
• Survivor bravely recalls experiences in a letter to the Lord Chancellor as review into the positions of trust law is due to be released

 A woman who was manipulated into having sex with her swimming coach when she turned 16 has urged the Ministry of Justice to extend the law to protect teenagers from predatory behaviour by those in a position of trust.

 Hannah* is part of a growing campaign that now includes the Welsh Rugby Union, Christina Rees MP nd a 4,420-strong petition in backing the NSPCC’s Close the Loophole campaign.

Currently, it is a crime for teachers, social workers and other professionals legally in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care.

The charity is calling for this law to be extended to also cover adults who could abuse their role, such as sports coaches, faith leaders and driving instructors, to protect teenagers from being preyed upon as soon as they turn 16.

The Welsh Rugby Union is among numerous sports clubs and unions supporting the campaign.

‘The WRU fully support the NSPCC in their Close the Loophole campaign,” says Julie Paterson, WRU Operations Director.

“It is vital that sport is a safe environment for everyone involved. Both our Safeguarding team at the WRU and our network of safeguarding officers at member clubs would welcome bringing sports coaching legislation in line with the teaching profession.

“There should be consistency in what is viewed as acceptable behaviour for those in a position of trust.”

In the letter, Hannah*, a determined swimmer, explained how her coach, Jeff*, who’s close to her parents’ age, abused his position of power over her.

They spent a lot of time together as she trained eight times a week and he began talking to her more when he knew when she was going through a difficult time at 15.

He became a constant in her life and waited until she was 16, then began to compliment on her appearance and pushed the limits of their relationship, before legally having sex with her.

When things ended with Jeff*, she told someone she trusted who made a referral and she was questioned by police but he couldn’t be charged because of the loophole.

“Jeff was always pushing the boundaries but staying on the right side of the line. Initially he would just give me a hug. Then one day he gave me a hug and put his hand on my bottom. Jeff spent a long time making me feel comfortable.

“This was my first sexual experience but when this relationship came tumbling down, I changed with it. I was left feeling really angry, I was a difficult person to be around. It took me a long time to trust friends and family, to let them hug me.”

The letter comes as a review into the Positions of Trust Law is due to be released by the Ministry of Justice in the coming weeks.

It was launched following pressure from the NSPCC after the UK Government backtracked on plans to close this legal loophole in 2018.

Cecile Gwilym, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for NSPCC Cymru, says: “It’s unacceptable that gaps in our law mean that teenagers are protected from predatory behaviour in the classroom, but not on the sports pitch.

“Young people should never be expected to fend off the sexual advances of adults, and yet the loophole means that 16 and 17-year-olds have to do just that, whilst their abusers are let off the hook.

“This is a significant moment for the Ministry of Justice to listen to those who were affected and safeguarding experts to Close the Loophole and make it clear that sexual abuse is never tolerable.”

MPs, including Christina Rees and Sarah Champion have added their voices to the campaign, while MP Tracey Crouch has been a long-standing supporter for a change in the law. An NSPCC petition was signed by 4,420 people in just two weeks.

Former national coach for Squash Wales, MP for Neath Christina Rees, says: “There are clear guidelines for Squash that coaches cannot form any sort of relationship with a person under their care, but I do not think this is good enough. If I could have said that it was against the law, it would have been clear cut and definitive. That should be the ruling.

“The evidence is profound. This must change. The UK Government must close the loophole, because in the eyes of the law, it’s okay to have sex with a 16 or 17-year-old in your trust in sport.”

British Gymnastics and UK Athletics also support the charity’s calls to action.

Mike Harrison, British Gymnastics Safeguarding Manager, says: “We fully support the NSPCC Close the Loophole campaign and we believe that the change is needed now.

“It is hugely important that the legislation includes sports coaches so that no coach is able to inappropriately influence any athletes. Closing the loophole would greatly enhance the protection afforded to all young people who enjoy sport”

David Brown, UK Athletics Welfare Officer, says: “We are proud to support the #CloseTheLoophole campaign which we have been engaged with since it began.

“The Welfare team at UKA has been working closely with the NSPCC and other sports NGBs to contribute to this milestone, and we look forward to continuing that work moving ahead.”

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk any time of the day or night.