Teachers who have consensual sex with pupils should not face prosecution
Teachers who have consensual sex with pupils should not face prosecution, says UNION!
Child protection experts last night condemned a teachers’ leader for saying that staff who have affairs with pupils over 16 should escape prosecution.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, said teachers should not face jail for having sex with pupils who are over the age of consent.
Her comments, due to be broadcast tonight, have outraged child protection and parenting experts who accused her of disregarding the protection of children.
Miss Keates said: ‘There is a real anomaly in the law that we are concerned about.
‘If a teacher has a relationship with a pupil at the school at which they teach - it could be an 18-year-old pupil in the sixth form - then the teacher can be prosecuted and end up on the sex offenders’ register.’
Teachers who have sex with sixth form pupils are only guilty of an ‘error of professional
Teacher Nicola Prentice
Nicoles willing Student Dean Dainty
Miss Keates told the ITV Tonight programme: ‘Clearly there has to be appropriate disciplinary sanctions in the school where a teacher works to make sure that inappropriate relationships don’t develop, but it does seem a step too far - when there has been a consensual relationship - to put that person on a sex offenders’ register when in fact, they could have a perfectly legitimate relationship with an 18-year-old still enrolled at another school.’
Her criticism of the abuse of trust law, contained in the Sexual Offences Act, which makes it illegal for teachers to have sexual relationships with children in their care, was condemned last night by child safety organisations.
Zoe Hilton, policy advisor at the NSPCC, said ‘The law is very clear that if a teacher abuses his or her position of trust by forming a sexual relationship with a pupil they could be prosecuted and this remains the case even if the child gives their consent. The law is, quite rightly, there to protect children.’
Author on parenting and children’s rights, Lynette Burrows said: ‘Where is her moral compass?
‘Teachers who take advantage of a young girl or boy in their care should certainly face dismissal and prosecution.
‘If there is no penalty what is there to stop teachers taking advantage of children and young people?
‘This also sends out a message that this is ok for teachers to have a relationship with pupils.’
More and more people want sex with children. Granted with teachers it is usually chidren that are past puberty, but not only are children becoming sexualized more and more at younger and younger ages and being used for sexual relations by adults, more people are defending the actions of these child molestors.
Welcome to our brave new, sexually perverse world!
