The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published a long-awaited report on its findings, recommending a string of reforms including the removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims.
The Inquiry Panel was formed seven years ago following a string of public child sexual abuse claims against high-profile individuals.
It has since investigated the root causes into what Professor Alexis Jay OBE, the Panel’s lead, described as a “national epidemic” of child sexual abuse, as well as making several recommendations on how best to address this moving forwards.
Key recommendations made by the Panel include removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims, extending the use of the barred list of people unsuitable for work with children, and the creation of a cabinet-level Minister for Children. Other recommendations made in the report are as follows:
- A single set of core data relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation
- The creation of a cabinet-level Minister for Children
- A public awareness campaign on child sexual abuse
- A ban on the use of pain compliance techniques on children in custodial institutions
- Amendment of the Children Act 1989 to give parity of legal protection to children in care
- Registration of care staff in residential care, and staff in young offender institutions and secure training centres
- Improved compliance with statutory duties to inform the Disclosure and Barring Service about individuals who may pose a risk of harm to children
- Extending the disclosure regime to those working with children overseas
- More robust age-verification requirements for the use of online platforms and services
- Mandatory online pre-screening for sexual images of children
- A guarantee of specialist therapeutic support for child victims of sexual abuse
- A code of practice for access to records pertaining to child sexual abuse
- Further changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
The full report, including the views and experiences of victims and survivors as well as further details of the above recommendations, is available here.
The government said it will respond in full to the inquiry’s report within six months, when proper consideration has been given to all the recommendations. The Home Office has also announced a further £4.5 million for organisations supporting victims and survivors of child sexual abuse at a national level.
This money will go to seven organisations who provide vital support for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse, adult survivors, and parents or carers of victims. This includes telephone and online counselling and support services; support groups; specialist support to LGBT+ victims; and survivor-led interventions.
Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice Brandon Lewis said:
“This inquiry has laid bare the horrors that many children suffered as a result of historical institutional failings that must never be repeated.
That is why we will continue to transform the justice system’s response to these heinous crimes – locking up child abusers for longer to protect the public, making sure predators cannot use sports or religious roles to harm young people, and hugely increasing funding for support services so that no victim is left to suffer alone.”
However, Richard Scorer, head of abuse law at Slater & Gordon, was keen to address the questions that still remain in the wake of the report:
“This report makes a start on much needed reform, but it doesn’t go far enough. We strongly welcome mandatory reporting. However, the inquiry’s recommendation falls short of what we need. The lack of any criminal penalty for failure to report abuse which is reasonably suspected creates a real risk that institutions can still turn a blind eye.
Children rarely disclose abuse, perpetrators almost never do. Mandatory reporting can only work if the requirement to report reasonable suspicion of abuse has teeth in the form of criminal sanctions. As currently worded, the inquiry’s proposal could end up being mandatory reporting in name only. We will fight to strengthen this proposal as it goes through parliament.”
