having looked at the body of evidence and some of the really worrying cases involving sports coaches and faith leaders, where you ve got a position of power, if you like, and authority that can be and is sometimes, sadly abused, i thought the time for action was now. a freedom of information request by the bbc last year found that there had been more than 160 reported cases of sports coaches engaging in sexual activity with a 16 or 17 year old in their care in 2016. for some of those who ve been pushing for change, the government s plan is overdue but nonetheless welcome. i think we all would have liked it sooner, but actually i think we are relieved it s going to be put forward now, because the danger always ways that it could be kicked off into the long grass again. to those people who say it is not needed, it is to fundamentally misunderstand the relationship a coach has with an athlete. they spend a huge amount of time together, depending on sport, that coach is the o