DO IT for Daniel – that was our call to you when the Observer backed a campaign for changes to child protection laws back in October.
And you delivered, with thousands flocking to a petition website calling on Daniel’s Law to become legislation.
For weeks it had been on the brink of hitting the 100,000-signature milestone we had called for. And last Wednesday night, it smashed the all-important barrier before gaining another 5,000 signatures. It could now be debated by MPs in the House of Commons.
Daniel’s Law – launched in the wake of Daniel Pelka’s murder – calls for mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse by professionals who are working with youngsters.
Last month education minister Michael Gove said the government was ‘actively reviewing’ the change.
And mum-of-three Paula Barrow, who launched the campaign, said it was now impossible to ignore.
“Children continue to suffer all kinds of physical and sexual abuse in regulated settings.
“We have put Daniel’s Law firmly on the national agenda and we look forward to the parliamentary debate.
“Two years after Daniel’s death, no one can say mandatory reporting is a knee-jerk reaction and one thing is for certain – sooner or later another child’s life will depend on it.”
She called on people to keep signing the petition. Visit change.org/danielslaw to do so.
We put our weight behind the campaign with this front page back in October.
