Prof Alexis Jay, former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), has urged the government to fully implement the 20 recommendations set out in the inquiry’s 2022 final report, which highlighted “endemic” abuse across England and Wales.
A campaign group chaired by Prof Jay, Act on IICSA, has called for ministers to commit to a “clear timeline” for adopting the proposed reforms. These include creating a national child protection authority, introducing stricter regulations on working with vulnerable children, legislating mandatory reporting of abuse, and requiring tech firms to take stronger action against online abuse material.
In a statement on Sunday, Act on IICSA warned against “politicising the issue of sexual violence,” which it said could obscure the urgent need for systemic reform. The group also criticized “misinformation” in recent media coverage of child abuse.
Prof Jay distanced herself from calls by Conservative and Reform UK leaders for a new public inquiry into grooming gangs. Instead, she emphasised that her focus is on ensuring IICSA’s recommendations are implemented. The IICSA inquiry, established in 2015, conducted 15 investigations into issues such as grooming gangs, abuse in schools, and church settings. Prof Jay, who previously led a inquiry into widespread abuse in Rotherham, has expressed frustration over the slow progress in adopting IICSA’s recommendations, labelling the government’s initial response as “weak.”
The Home Office says it is “working at pace across government” to implement the recommendations. Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed this, saying the government is prioritizing reforms.
The issue of grooming gangs has reignited political debate. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage recently called for a new inquiry into what Badenoch described as the UK’s “rape gangs scandal.” Billionaire Elon Musk also fuelled online discussion of the issue through posts on social media.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham defended ongoing investigations and reviews into child sexual exploitation within his region. Burnham noted that a 2017 review of Greater Manchester Police has already led to arrests, charges, and convictions. While supporting the idea of a national inquiry if deemed necessary, Burnham stressed that ongoing police investigations should not be disrupted.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is expected to face questions on the topic during a press conference on the NHS on Monday. As director of public prosecutions, Starmer previously oversaw efforts to prosecute grooming gang offenders in Rochdale and restructure the Crown Prosecution Service to better address such cases.
