We are committed to raising safeguarding awareness and empowering everyone we engage with to identify and report concerns.

It is vital that young people involved in racing have a positive and fulfilling experience whilst engaging in racing activities and are protected from all forms of abuse and harm. Similarly, it is important that ‘adults at risk’ also fully enjoy racing, and they too are protected.

The BHA Safeguarding Policy aims to ensure the safety and welfare of Young People and Adults at Risk within racing, and the following key principles will guide the BHA’s approach in seeking to fulfil that aim.

The BHA’S key safeguarding principles

1. The BHA has an important role to play, and it too must have the ability to learn of safeguarding concerns, respond to them, investigate them, and take such action as might be necessary to protect Young People and Adults at Risk in the sport.
2. The BHA will work in partnership with local authority social care teams, the police, local safeguarding partners, the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland, and any other appropriate authorities/bodies in accordance with their procedures, and to enable them to carry out their statutory or other duties to investigate concerns and protect Young People and Adults at Risk in the sport.
3. The BHA will provide appropriate support to stakeholders in racing in improving their safeguarding policies and practices, with a view to achieving high safeguarding standards across racing.
4. The BHA will take all allegations of abuse seriously and respond swiftly and appropriately.
5. The BHA will challenge conduct within racing that is, or might be, harmful to Young People or Adults at Risk.
6. The BHA will support all of those involved in safeguarding cases, any affected Young People and Adults at Risk, their families, and those who report concerns to the BHA.

How to report safeguarding concerns

The BHA itself wishes to receive – and in fact actively encourages the making of – reports of concerns relating to abuse or poor practice, and it is necessary that it receives such reports. Reports can be made to the BHA either:

Via email to [email protected]; or by telephone to the BHA Safeguarding Team on 0207 152 0099, or through the BHA Safeguarding Incident Report Form, which can be located in the resources section below.

Anonymous reporting is also available through RaceWise, the BHA’s anonymous reporting service (operated by CrimeStoppers) on 08000 852 580 or through its online reporting form at RaceWise Reporting.

Who is covered by the Safeguarding Policy?

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

This Safeguarding Policy is designed primarily to protect all participants under the age of 18 and Adults at Risk who are engaged in racing and/or related activities overseen by the BHA. Including (but not limited to) the following participants: Jockey Coaches, Owners, Riders, Riders’ Agents, Stable Staff, Trainers, Valets, and BHA employees, officials, and volunteers.

In addition to those who are not performing roles licensed or permitted by, or registered with, the BHA but who are otherwise involved in racing and/or related activities overseen by the BHA. Examples may include (but not be limited to) racecourse officials, and service providers such as veterinarians, medical staff, physiotherapists, nutritionists, farriers etc.

The BHA is also committed to supporting any other adult who may suffer from abuse and/or harm in the context of racing and related activities, even if they do not fall within the definition of ‘Adult at Risk’ as set out in the Safeguarding Policy.

What is considered under the Safeguarding Policy?

• Harm and Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Financial Abuse
• Neglect
• Peer on Peer Abuse
• Positions of Trust
• Poor Practice

For full details of the safeguarding issues that are considered under the safeguarding policy, view the policy in the resources section below.

Safeguarding documents and resources: