Maggie Atkinson said a change to the law would encourage professionals, such as social workers and doctors as well as school staff, to share their concerns with others.
There is already statutory guidance compelling professionals who come in to contact with children to report child abuse.
However, failure to do so is not a crime in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, it is against the law to fail to disclose an arrestable offence to police.
However, ministers said there was no evidence that such a move would make children any safer.
Ms Atkinson called for a series of pilots to be launched to trial the idea.
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