Social workers and other frontline staff could face criminal charges if they fail to report suspected child abuse or neglect under proposals by the Government.

The Government has proposed either introducing a mandatory reporting duty for any person working with children or a duty to act that would require them to take appropriate action if they thought a child was being abused or neglected.

‘We must do all we can to protect children and young people from abuse and neglect,' said minister for education, Edward Timpson.

‘That's why we're making radical improvements to make sure services identify children at risk as early as possible and take swift action to give them the protection and care they need.

‘Events in Rotherham, Oxford and elsewhere show there is still more to be done.'

When the plans were first announced, the Local Government Association (LGA) said social workers and local politicians should be held to account if they failed to protect vulnerable children but warned that ‘we need a million eyes and ears to look out for our young people'.