Government faces pressure to close the loophole in the law making it possible for adults such as sports coaches, faith leaders and driving instructions to engage in sexual activity with children in their care
Hannah*, 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 adults abusing their position of trust .
She is part of a growing campaign that now includes national sporting bodies, MPs, the network of council safeguarding leads and a 4,420-strong petition1 in backing our #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 care2.
We are 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 make it illegal for all adults to engage in sexual activity with any young person under 18.