How far is England in the process of introducing a mandatory reporting system?

This article argues that England is in the process of introducing a mandatory reporting system, not based on the requirement to report child abuse but on the basis of 'a cause for concern' for a child's welfare. It describes Section 12 of the Children Act 2004, which is fundamental to the development, and the rationale upon which it is based. The second part of the article summarizes the key criticisms that have been made of mandatory reporting systems and discusses how these are likely to apply in the English situation.