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Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Completed

IICSA

Chair Professor Alexis Jay OBE Academic / Researcher
Established 12 Mar 2015
Final Report 20 Oct 2022
Commissioned by Home Office

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was a statutory inquiry established to investigate whether public bodies and other non-state institutions in England and Wales have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse. The Inquiry examined institutional failures across religious organisations, schools, local authorities, the NHS, the internet industry, and other settings.

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
AI-generated narrative. Generated 26 Mar 2026 using claude-opus-4. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
Live tracking hearings, witnesses and documents synced daily from the inquiry website Open live tracker Search evidence
7 years, 7 months Duration
£190m Total Cost
725 Witnesses
325 Hearing Days
195,034 Documents
Inquiry Website Terms of Reference
Government Response
Accepted 63
Accepted in Part 33
Not Accepted 11
Total Recommendations 107
Data last updated: 29 Apr 2026 · Source
Data verified: 11 Jun 2026 (Claude)
How to read this

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

Full methodology

76 questions 31 statements since Sep 2016
Written Question Church of England: Children
Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat)
20 Feb 2026
Written Ministerial Statement The Sentencing of Vincent Chan
Bridget Phillipson (Labour)
12 Feb 2026
Written Ministerial Statement The Sentencing of Vincent Chan
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour)
12 Feb 2026
Written Question Youth Custody: Restraint Techniques
Sarah Pochin (Reform UK)
13 Jan 2026
Written Question Offences against Children: Compensation
Sarah Pochin (Reform UK)
13 Jan 2026
View all 107 mentions →
All Activity (107)
Title Volume Publication Date Tracked recs Links
Accountability and Reparations Investigation Report Accountability and Reparations 19 Sep 2019 7
The Anglican Church Investigation Report Anglican Church 06 Oct 2020 8
The Anglican Church Case Studies Investigation Report Anglican Church Case Studies 21 May 2019 5
Child Migration Programmes Investigation Report Child Migration Programmes 01 Mar 2018 3
Children Outside the United Kingdom Phase 2 Investigation Report Children Outside UK 30 Jan 2020 5
Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks Investigation Report CSE Networks 01 Feb 2022 6
Sexual Abuse of Children in Custodial Institutions: 2009-2017 Investigation Report Custodial Institutions 26 Feb 2019 7
The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Final Report 20 Oct 2022 20
Interim Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Interim Report 25 Apr 2018 15
The Internet Investigation Report Internet 31 Mar 2020 4
Children in the Care of Lambeth Council Investigation Report Lambeth Council 27 Jul 2021 4
Children in the Care of the Nottinghamshire Councils Investigation Report Nottinghamshire Councils 30 Jul 2019 2
Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings Investigation Report Religious Organisations 02 Sep 2021 2
The Residential Schools Investigation Report Residential Schools 10 Mar 2022 7
The Roman Catholic Church Investigation Report Roman Catholic Church 10 Nov 2020 7
Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Linked to Westminster Investigation Report Westminster 25 Feb 2020 5
07 Jul 2014
Inquiry Announced

Home Secretary announced inquiry into institutional child sexual abuse.

Source
16 Jan 2015
Terms of Reference Set

Broad terms examining institutional failures to protect children.

12 Aug 2016
Chair Appointed

Professor Alexis Jay appointed as fourth and final Chair.

07 Mar 2017
Public Hearings Begin

First public hearings commenced.

06 Aug 2018
First Reports Published

Investigation reports into various institutions began publication.

20 Oct 2022
Final Report Published

Final report published with 20 principal recommendations.

Source
22 May 2023
Government Response

Government published response to recommendations.

Source
Total Inquiry Cost (Cumulative) £189,963,980
to Mar 2023 IICSA Total Expenditure 2015-2023
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
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.
Cost History
Period Total Inquiry Legal CP Legal Source
Mar 2023 £6,971,878 £773,728 -
Mar 2023 (cum.) £189,963,980 £52,079,728 -
Mar 2022 £14,191,559 £2,606,000 -
Mar 2021 £32,693,623 £8,393,000 -
Mar 2020 £35,321,985 £11,018,000 -
Mar 2019 £36,673,118 £10,871,000 -
Mar 2018 £28,550,591 £8,820,000 -
Mar 2017 £20,836,063 £5,628,000 -
Mar 2016 £14,725,163 £3,970,000 -
Clear

Recommendations (15)

3
Accepted
Disapply 12-month limit for CSA police complaints
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the National Police Chiefs' Council ensures that complaints relating to child sexual abuse are no longer 'disapplied' by police forces on the grounds that the incident involved took place more than 12 months before … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 16 January 2019, Chief Constable Craig Guildford (NPCC lead for Complaints and Misconduct) advised all Chief Officers that complaints relating to child sexual abuse should not be disapplied on grounds of age alone (Government Response, NPCC, January 2019).
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that the NPCC had issued guidance to all forces on this matter (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
National Police Chiefs Council (Primary)
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22
Accepted
National chaperone policy for healthcare (England)
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Department of Health and Social Care develops a national policy for the training and use of chaperones in the treatment of children in healthcare services. The Chair and Panel recommend that the Care … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In July 2019, the UK government stated that NHS England had developed chaperone guidance notes setting out principles of chaperoning and practical guidance for use in healthcare settings (Government Response, Department of Health and Social Care, July 2019).
- In May 2023, the government stated that this recommendation was being taken forward through NHS England (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published national mandatory chaperone policy specifically covering the treatment of children in healthcare services has been identified to March 2026.
Department of Health and Social Care (Primary)
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23
Accepted
National chaperone policy for healthcare (Wales)
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Welsh Government develops a national policy for the training and use of chaperones in the treatment of children in healthcare services. The Chair and Panel recommend that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales considers compliance with … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 6 January 2020, the Welsh Government published guidance for health boards and trusts on good working practice for the use of chaperones in the treatment of children (Government Response, Welsh Government, January 2020).
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that the Welsh Government had completed this recommendation (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
Welsh Government (Primary)
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24
Not Accepted
Registration of children's home care staff
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Department for Education introduces arrangements for the registration of staff working in care roles in children's homes. Registration should be with an independent body charged with setting and maintaining standards of training, conduct … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 8 July 2021, the Department for Education published the findings of a Call for Evidence on the children's homes workforce and a literature review (Government Response, Department for Education, July 2021).
- In May 2023, the government stated that it accepted the need for rigorous registration of staff in children's homes and was examining implementation options through the Stable Homes, Built on Love strategy (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published registration scheme for children's homes care staff has been identified to March 2026.
Department for Education (Primary)
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25
Not Accepted
Amendment of Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Home Office ensures that the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is amended so that, where a fitness to practise hearing has been conducted by the keeper of a relevant register and has resulted … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In December 2018, the UK government stated that the Home Office would ask the Disclosure and Barring Service to continue close engagement with regulators of care settings (Government Response, Home Office, December 2018).
- In May 2023, the government stated that it accepted this recommendation subject to further assessment following the Bailey Review of Disclosure and Barring Regulations (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published amendment to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 concerning fitness to practise findings has been identified to March 2026.
Home Office (Primary)
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74
Not Accepted
Joint inspection of Victims Code compliance
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Attorney General commission a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims' Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. The Victims' Commissioner should be … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In October 2020, the Ministry of Justice stated that the operational demands of the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims' Code in CSA cases (Government Response, Ministry of Justice, October 2020).
- In May 2023, the government stated that the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates had included an inspection of victims' experiences of child sexual abuse in the criminal justice system in their 2023-25 programme (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published joint inspection report specifically on Victims' Code compliance in CSA cases has been identified to March 2026.
Ministry of Justice (Primary)
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75
Accepted
Register of public liability insurers
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Association of British Insurers considers whether a register of public liability insurers could be introduced to assist claimants in child sexual abuse cases in locating the insurers relevant to their claim, and how … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 24 April 2019, the Association of British Insurers formally responded to this recommendation by raising questions about the merits of a register of public liability insurers (Government Response, ABI, April 2019).
- In May 2023, the government noted that the ABI had raised concerns about feasibility (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published register of public liability insurers to assist CSA claimants has been identified to March 2026.
Association of British Insurers (Primary)
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76
Accepted
Vulnerable witness protections in civil courts
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice provides in primary legislation that victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in civil court cases, where they are claiming compensation in relation to the abuse they suffered, are afforded … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In February 2020, the Civil Justice Council confirmed it had agreed to consider the issues raised by this recommendation on qualified one-way costs shifting for CSA civil claimants (Government Response, Ministry of Justice, February 2020).
- In May 2023, the government stated that it would consult on strengthening existing judicial guidance on limitation periods for CSA claims and explore options for reform (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published legislation providing qualified one-way costs shifting for CSA civil claimants has been identified to March 2026.
Ministry of Justice (Primary)
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77
Not Accepted
CSA experience for Chief Officer progression
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that any police officer (or staff equivalent) who wants to progress to the Chief Officer cadre must first be required to: have operational policing experience in preventing and responding to child sexual abuse; and achieve … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In July 2019, the UK government stated that the Home Office and College of Policing had drawn up a programme of non-legislative changes to ensure future chief officers have operational child protection experience (Government Response, Home Office, July 2019).
- In May 2023, the government noted that this recommendation was being progressed through College of Policing competency frameworks (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published mandatory requirement that all prospective chief officers must have operational child protection experience has been identified to March 2026.
Home Office (Primary)
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86
Accepted
Review CSA support services expenditure (England)
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office work together to establish current levels of public expenditure, and the effectiveness of that expenditure … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In July 2019, the UK government stated that the Ministry of Justice had established a cross-government working group and gathered data on public expenditure on services for CSA victims (Government Response, Ministry of Justice, July 2019).
- In May 2023, the government noted that cross-departmental work to establish expenditure levels was ongoing (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published comprehensive assessment of public expenditure on CSA victim support services as specified has been identified to March 2026.
Department of Health and Social Care (Primary)
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87
Accepted
Review CSA support services expenditure (Wales)
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Welsh Government and the relevant UK government departments work together to establish current levels of public expenditure, and the effectiveness of that expenditure on services for child victims and adult survivors of child … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 24 February 2022, the Welsh Government stated that it had obtained levels of public expenditure for support services to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in Wales (Government Response, Welsh Government, February 2022).
- In May 2023, the government noted that the Welsh Government had made progress on establishing expenditure levels (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- No published assessment of the effectiveness of that expenditure as specified in the recommendation has been identified to March 2026.
Welsh Government (Primary)
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94
Not Accepted
CICA unspent convictions rule reform
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice revises Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority rules, so that awards are not automatically rejected in circumstances where an applicant's criminal convictions are likely to be linked to their child sexual abuse. … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 14 May 2021, the Ministry of Justice stated that following its consultation, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme had been amended to remove the 'same roof' rule and to allow revisiting of claims where the applicant's criminal convictions had been overturned (Government Response, Ministry of Justice, May 2021).
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that changes to the CICA rules had been implemented (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
Ministry of Justice (Primary)
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95
Accepted
CICA specialist caseworker training
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority ensures that claims relating to child sexual abuse are only considered by caseworkers who have specific and detailed training in the nature and impact of child sexual abuse. Read more
Published evidence summary
- In December 2018, the UK government stated that all Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority operational staff are given training on handling sexual offences and child sexual abuse cases sensitively (Government Response, Ministry of Justice, December 2018).
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that specialist training for CICA caseworkers handling CSA claims was in place (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (Primary)
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96
Accepted
CICA same roof rule reapplication
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice revises the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority rules so that all applicants who previously applied for compensation in relation to child sexual abuse - but were refused solely due to the … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 22 July 2019, the UK government confirmed that the 'same roof' rule had been removed from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, allowing all applicants to reapply (Government Response, Ministry of Justice, July 2019).
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that this recommendation had been fully implemented (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
Ministry of Justice (Primary)
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103
Accepted
Ratify Lanzarote Convention
Recommendation
The Chair and Panel recommend that the UK government ratifies the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the 'Lanzarote Convention') without further delay. They also recommend that ratification is followed, again … Read more
Published evidence summary
- On 20 June 2018, the UK ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Convention) (Government Response, Home Office, June 2018).
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that this recommendation had been completed (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
UK Government (Primary)
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