Include clergy in position of trust definition
IICSA · The Anglican Church Case Studies Investigation Report · Issued 21 May 2019 · Addressed to: UK Government
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation, F
The government should amend Section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 so as to include clergy within the definition of a position of trust. This would criminalise under s16-s20 sexual activity between clergy and a person aged 16-18, over whom they exercise pastoral authority, involving the abuse of a position of trust.
IICSA, The Anglican Church Case Studies Investigation Report · 21 May 2019 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (s.47) amended Section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to include clergy and sports coaches within the definition of a position of trust, criminalising sexual activity with 16-17 year olds in those roles (Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, s.47).
Response — verbatim from government
●UK Government
On 9 March 2021, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office stated that the government would introduce the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. The Bill sought to extend the definition of a 'position of trust' to prevent sports coaches and religious leaders from engaging in sexual relationships with young people under the age of 18. On 28 April 2022, the Bill received Royal Assent and section 47 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 reflects this change.
UK Government · 22 May 2023 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
No published activity has been recorded against this recommendation yet.
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.