The government is prepared to force the entertainment industry to improve safeguarding practices unless rapid change is introduced, Newsnight has learned.
An investigation by the Guardian and ITV News alleged that entertainer David Walliams had been accused by several women of sexual misconduct and abusing his position, which he denies.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will tell a meeting of industry leaders next week that if their response to recent allegations is not robust enough, she is prepared to force participation in the industry body to protect whistleblowers, the understands.
Participation in the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) is currently voluntary.
Nandy said earlier this week that she was summoning leaders from the broadcasting, publishing, film and entertainment industries to “draw a line” in the sand.
The announcement came after the publication of allegations against Walliams, as well as the sentencing of disgraced entertainer Russell Brand on charges of rape and sexual assault.
The allegations against Walliams were made as a part of a joint three-year investigation by the Guardian and ITV News, which was published after the entertainer lost a legal bid to stop the claims against him being made public. Walliams denies all the allegations against him.
Newsnight understands that the culture secretary will deliver two messages at next week’s round table meeting.
In the first instance, she will tell industry leaders that they need to meet the moment, take responsibility and tackle issues of safeguarding on their own. But she will add that if their response is not good enough, the government might have to intervene.
Intervention could include forcing participation in the CIISA.
Multiple government ministers gave statements on Wednesday that called for further restrictions on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
Women and Equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson, told Sky News that there was “scope to go further” on legislation that restricts the use of such agreements, in order to make sure that the legal system was not “abused in order to silence women”.
“We cannot have a system where rich and powerful individuals, rich and powerful men, are able to silence women and stop things coming to light,” she said.