Information Sharing

A new Information Sharing Duty starts on 30 September 2026. Until now, sharing information for safeguarding has been good practice. From 30 September, it becomes a legal duty in defined circumstances.

Learning from Reviews reinforces the fact that both children and adults can suffer significant harm or death when professionals fail to share information. Good communication and appropriate information sharing between professionals is therefore a critical element of effective safeguarding practice.

We know that legal jargon can often appear complex and confusing so the BSCP has adopted a simple approach to compliance in this important area.

We positively encourage professionals to seek agreement to share information when it is right to do so and where doing so does not place a child at more risk.

Where there are good reasons to be worried about a child's safety or wellbeing the fact that there is no existing information sharing agreement between organisations or that the information is seen as “third- party”, should not be used as an excuse to fail to share. Your concern is sufficient and it is lawful to have a conversation with or seek advice from fellow professionals.

If you are worried about someone, you are allowed to talk with other professionals without fearing you are doing something wrong. Talking to each other and sharing information when trying to protect people from actual or likely harm or to prevent a crime is lawful and in the substantial public interest.

If you have safeguarding concerns and feel they are not being heard or that you are unreasonably being prevented from sharing what you know with an appropriate partner please do not hesitate to escalate the matter by contacting a member of the BSCP Team on: 0208 461 7816

Further advice and government guidance on information sharing can be found by following the link below:

Briefing note for all safeguarding partnerships re new Info Sharing Duty 2026 from London Safeguarding Children Partnership

Information Sharing Duty 2026 UK Govt

A 10 step guide to sharing information to safeguard children ICO

Information sharing to safeguard children and young people - GOV.UK

Data Sharing Agreement

The safeguarding partners are awaiting the publication of the Pan-London Data Sharing Agreement, which is intended to provide a consistent framework for information sharing across London.

Given the significant cross-boundary nature of safeguarding activity and the shared involvement of partners such as the Metropolitan Police Service and ICB/NHS organisations, the partners consider it more effective to adopt the agreed London-wide framework once available rather than develop a separate local agreement at this stage.

In the meantime, information continues to be shared in accordance with statutory safeguarding duties, relevant legislation, and existing agency information-sharing arrangements.

London Multi-Agency Data Sharing Agreement for Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children 2021