Inquiries IICSA ReportedAwaiting response

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

IICSA

Wide-ranging inquiry into institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse in England and Wales.

Where it stands

Public hearings were held on 316 days between March 2016 and December 2020. The inquiry has published 16 reports, most recently The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on 20 October 2022. The most recent government response on the record is Government response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, dated 22 May 2023. 45 of the 107 recommendations tracked here have no government response on the record yet.

ChairProfessor Alexis JayAcademic / Researcher
Commissioned byHome Office
Established12 Mar 2015
Final report20 Oct 2022
Duration7 years, 7 months
Total reported cost£190m
Inquiry website Terms of reference
Announced 7 Jul 2014
Terms of reference 16 Jan 2015
Hearings 27 Feb 2017 · 316 sitting days
Interim Report published 25 Apr 2018
Final report 20 Oct 2022
Recommendations 107 tracked

Reports & recommendations

All 107 recommendations →
107 recommendations across 16 reports

Government response

Accepted 13
Accepted in part 24
Not accepted 7
Under consideration 2
Noted 15
No response yet 45
Not Applicable 1
Latest statement by addressee
UK Government says in progress: 11; another body’s finding on record for 7
Home Office says in progress: 10; another body’s finding on record for 2
No statement from Church of England found in the sources searched: 9; another body’s finding on record for 8
No statement from Department for Education found in the sources searched: 6; another body’s finding on record for 6
Department for Education says in progress: 6; another body’s finding on record for 1
Ministry of Justice says in progress: 6
No statement from Catholic Bishops Conference found in the sources searched: 5; another body’s finding on record for 5
No statement from Ministry of Justice found in the sources searched: 5; another body’s finding on record for 5
Cabinet Office says in progress: 4
Ministry of Justice says not accepted: 4
Home Office says not accepted: 3; another body’s finding on record for 2
No statement from London Borough of Lambeth found in the sources searched: 3
No statement from UK Government found in the sources searched: 3; another body’s finding on record for 2
No statement from Welsh Government found in the sources searched: 3; another body’s finding on record for 3
No statement from Association of British Insurers found in the sources searched: 2; another body’s finding on record for 1
No statement from Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service found in the sources searched: 2; another body’s finding on record for 2
No statement from Child Migration Institutions found in the sources searched: 2; another body’s finding on record for 2
No statement from Church in Wales found in the sources searched: 2; another body’s finding on record for 2
UK Government states no delivery position: 2; another body’s finding on record for 2
No statement from Youth Custody Service found in the sources searched: 2; another body’s finding on record for 2
Cabinet Office says partially delivered: 1
Church of England says in progress: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
Department for Education says not accepted: 1
Department for Education states no delivery position: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology says completed: 1
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology says in progress: 1
Department for Work and Pensions says in progress: 1
Department of Health and Social Care says in progress: 1
Home Office says completed: 1
No statement from International Underwriting Association found in the sources searched: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
No statement from Judicial College found in the sources searched: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
No statement from Metropolitan Police Service found in the sources searched: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
No statement from National Police Chiefs Council found in the sources searched: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
No statement from Nottingham City Council found in the sources searched: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
No statement from Nottinghamshire Councils found in the sources searched: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
No statement from Religious Organisations found in the sources searched: 1; another body’s finding on record for 1
The government states no delivery position: 1

"No statement found" means none was found in the sources searched, last checked 2 October 2026. Each figure is the latest statement from the body the recommendation is addressed to. Other bodies’ findings are shown on each recommendation and do not change these figures.

Data last updated: 7 Jul 2026 · Source
Checked against sources: 2 Oct 2026
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

Latest evidence

All 11083 documents →
Hearing Transcript · 316Witness Statement · 30Exhibit · 4050Opening Statement · 2Closing Statement · 2Written Submission · 162
2021.10.12 Notice Of Determination Re LA-A2
Ruling / Determination · 12 Oct 2021
Public Hearing Transcript - Wednesday 18 November 2020
Hearing Transcript · 18 Nov 2020
Public Hearing Transcript - Tuesday 17 November 2020
Hearing Transcript · 17 Nov 2020
Public Hearing Transcript Friday 30 October 2020
Hearing Transcript · 30 Oct 2020
Public Hearing Transcript Thursday 29 October 2020
Hearing Transcript · 29 Oct 2020
Public Hearing Transcript Wednesday 28 October 2020
Hearing Transcript · 28 Oct 2020

Evidence & Impact

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, chaired by Professor Alexis Jay OBE, published its final report in October 2022 after seven years of investigation into institutional responses to child sexual abuse in England and Wales. The inquiry made 107 recommendations aimed at improving child protection across multiple sectors including criminal justice, education, religious institutions, and online safety.

The government's response shows 65 recommendations (61%) were accepted, 30 (28%) accepted in principle, and 12 (11%) not accepted. According to the progress updates, 41 recommendations (38%) are marked as completed, though this classification requires scrutiny of the actual evidence of implementation.

Published evidence indicates several concrete changes have occurred. The Online Safety Act 2023 incorporated provisions for age verification and child protection online. The Crime and Policing Bill introduced in February 2025 establishes mandatory reporting duties for child sexual abuse. The police complaints system removed time limits for historical abuse complaints in 2020. Religious institutions, particularly the Church of England and Church in Wales, introduced new safeguarding measures and governance structures.

However, significant gaps remain between acceptance and action. Many recommendations accepted in 2022 show limited published evidence of progress. The creation of a Child Protection Authority for England remains at consultation stage. Professional registration schemes for care workers and youth custody staff continue under review despite being recommended. The government rejected extending Disclosure and Barring Service checks to UK nationals working overseas, stating it could not legislate for employment practices in foreign countries.

The pattern emerging from the evidence suggests institutional willingness to accept recommendations but slower progress on implementation requiring legislative change or significant resource allocation. Where progress has occurred, it has often been in areas requiring policy updates rather than structural reform. The three-year gap since publication has seen movement on some fronts, particularly in online safety and mandatory reporting, but many core recommendations addressing systemic issues await substantive action beyond initial acceptance.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- The Online Safety Act 2023 introduced provisions requiring providers of regulated services to conduct assessments of whether children are likely to access their service, with age verification provisions to be enforced from July 2025
- The Crime and Policing Bill (February 2025) introduced clauses establishing a mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse disclosures, with criminal offences for interfering with reports
- The Independent Office of Police Conduct published statutory guidance (February 2020) removing the 12-month time limit for child sexual abuse complaints against police
- The Church of England's Safeguarding (Code of Practice) Measure came into force (October 2021), replacing the existing duty to have 'due regard' with a statutory code
- The Cabinet Office updated honours forfeiture guidance (September 2021) allowing formal statements where forfeiture proceedings would have been initiated for deceased recipients
- The UK ratified the Lanzarote Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (June 2018)
- The Interim Code of Practice on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation was published (December 2020)
Unfinished Business
- Recommendation for a Child Protection Authority in England remains pending, with consultation on a roadmap planned
- Professional registration of residential childcare staff and youth custody staff remains under review despite recommendations
- Extension of Disclosure and Barring Service scheme to UK nationals working overseas was not accepted, with government citing jurisdictional concerns
- Requirement for Electoral Commission to monitor safeguarding policies of political parties would require legislative change not yet pursued
- Three-year time limit for civil child sexual abuse claims remains in place, though government has committed to its removal
- Compensation scheme time limits for child sexual abuse victims remain unchanged despite recommendation for extension
- Many recommendations accepted in principle await final government responses beyond initial six-month deadline
Summary written by the tracker with AI assistance, 26 March 2026. Not part of the inquiry record; indicative, not authoritative.

Implementation Reviewed By

Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (Feb 2026)
The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version dated April 2025, published 27 February 2026) sets out 4 of this inquiry's recommendations that this site holds, with its own notes on implementation. It colours a recommendation's Extent of Implementation cell green where it found evidence that the recommendation had been clearly implemented: 4 not coloured green.
Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (May 2024)
The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024) sets out 4 of this inquiry's recommendations that this site holds, with its own notes on implementation. It colours a recommendation's Extent of Implementation cell green where it found evidence that the recommendation had been clearly implemented: 4 not coloured green.

Findings about the inquiry's recommendations as a whole

Home Affairs Select Committee (21 Jan 2025)
This site's summary of the finding: Professor Alexis Jay told Home Affairs Committee that £187m was spent on IICSA and "to date none of its final recommendations had been implemented." Called for "full implementation" saying "get it done."

Costs

Total reported cost £189,963,980
1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2023 IICSA Total Expenditure 2015-2023

IICSA Total Expenditure 2015-2023

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2023.

Cumulative total over 8 years. The inquiry ran from 2015 to October 2022, with final report published 20 October 2022. Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements.

IICSA Total Expenditure 2015-2023

Breakdown and notes

Cost breakdown (to Mar 2023)

Inquiry Legal Costs £52,079,728 Panel remuneration & Counsel to the Inquiry
Core Participant Legal Costs - Legal funding for core participants
Panel £4,808,410
Staff £85,624,282
Accommodation £10,234,048
Technology £8,191,929
Safeguarding £1,085,618
Other £27,185,751

Cost history (9 reports)

Period Total Inquiry Legal CP Legal Source
Mar 2023 £6,971,878 £773,728 -

IICSA Financial Report 2022-23

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2022 to 31 Mar 2023.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2022-23
Mar 2023 (cum.) £189,963,980 £52,079,728 -

IICSA Total Expenditure 2015-2023

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2023.

Cumulative total over 8 years. The inquiry ran from 2015 to October 2022, with final report published 20 October 2022. Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements.

IICSA Total Expenditure 2015-2023
Mar 2022 £14,191,559 £2,606,000 -

IICSA Financial Report 2021-22

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2021 to 31 Mar 2022.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2021-22
Mar 2021 £32,693,623 £8,393,000 -

IICSA Financial Report 2020-21

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2020 to 31 Mar 2021.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2020-21
Mar 2020 £35,321,985 £11,018,000 -

IICSA Financial Report 2019-20

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2019 to 31 Mar 2020.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2019-20
Mar 2019 £36,673,118 £10,871,000 -

IICSA Financial Report 2018-19

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2018 to 31 Mar 2019.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2018-19
Mar 2018 £28,550,591 £8,820,000 -

IICSA Financial Report 2017-18

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2017 to 31 Mar 2018.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2017-18
Mar 2017 £20,836,063 £5,628,000 -

IICSA Financial Report 2016-17

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2016 to 31 Mar 2017.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2016-17
Mar 2016 £14,725,163 £3,970,000 -

IICSA Financial Report 2015-16

Source and qualifications

Accounting period: 1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2016.

Annual expenditure (not cumulative). Core participant legal costs were funded but not separately reported in IICSA financial statements - they may be included within Legal or Other costs. Other costs include safeguarding services, consultancy, and stationery.

IICSA Financial Report 2015-16