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Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Completed

IICSA

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

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

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. The inquiry examined institutional responses to child sexual abuse across multiple sectors including religious institutions, residential schools, the internet, and custodial settings. It made 107 recommendations aimed at improving child protection systems across England and Wales.

The government's response shows 65 recommendations (61%) were accepted, 30 (28%) accepted in principle, and 12 (11%) not accepted. According to tracking data from May 2023, 41 recommendations (38%) were marked as completed, though the evidence base for determining completion status is not detailed in the available records.

Published evidence of progress includes several legislative and policy changes. The Online Safety Act 2023 incorporates child protection measures recommended by the inquiry. The Crime and Policing Bill introduced in February 2025 establishes mandatory reporting duties for child sexual abuse. The Church of England implemented new safeguarding measures through statutory instruments in 2021.

However, significant recommendations show limited evidence of progress. The recommendation for a Cabinet Minister for Children remains pending. Multiple recommendations on data collection and monitoring (8-10, 56-59, 61-62) were listed as pending in the May 2023 government response. The government declined to extend the Disclosure and Barring Service scheme internationally, stating it could not legislate for employment practices in foreign countries.

The available evidence suggests a mixed picture: while some recommendations have resulted in legislative change, others remain at the planning or consideration stage three years after publication. The government committed to various future actions in 2025-26, including establishing a Child Protection Authority and improving therapeutic support for survivors, though these remain prospective rather than completed reforms.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- The Online Safety Act 2023 includes 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 (introduced February 2025) establishes a mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse disclosures, with criminal sanctions for interference with reporting
- The Independent Office of Police Conduct published statutory guidance (February 2020) removing the 12-month time limit for complaints relating to child sexual abuse
- The Church of England's Safeguarding (Code of Practice) Measure came into force (October 2021), replacing the previous 'due regard' standard with statutory obligations
- The Cabinet Office updated honours forfeiture guidance (September 2021) to allow 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 Government published the Interim Code of Practice on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (December 2020)
Unfinished Business
- Recommendation 1 on establishing a Cabinet Minister for Children remains pending according to May 2023 government response
- Recommendations 8-10 on data collection and monitoring remain pending as of May 2023
- Recommendations 56-59 and 61-62 on various safeguarding measures show pending status in May 2023 government response
- Recommendation 97 remains pending according to May 2023 update
- Professional registration for residential childcare staff (recommendation 24) was not accepted, with government stating it would keep under review
- Professional registration for youth justice staff (recommendation 27) accepted in principle but still under consideration as of May 2022
- Extension of DBS scheme to overseas employers (recommendations 34-35) not accepted, with government citing jurisdictional limitations
Generated 18 Mar 2026 using claude-opus-4. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
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: 31 Jan 2026 · Source
Data verified: 11 Mar 2026 (Claude)
How to read this

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

Full methodology

76 questions 20 statements since Oct 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 96 mentions →
All Activity (96)
Title Volume Publication Date 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
The National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Complaints and Misconduct, Chief Constable Craig Guildford, advised all Chief Officers on 16 January 2019 that complaints relating to child sexual abuse should no longer be 'disapplied' due to the 12-month limit, with this interim measure implemented immediately. The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) subsequently published statutory guidance on the police complaints system on 1 February 2020, which would incorporate this change. The government's progress tracker, updated in May 2023, indicates this recommendation as completed.
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
NHS England developed chaperone guidance notes, which were signed off by the NHS England and NHS Improvement Executive team in May 2019 and disseminated through extensive communication channels (Official government response, 4 May 2022). The Department for Health and Social Care continues to require the Care Quality Commission to assess providers' policies and protocols on their inspection visits. No further published evidence has been identified since May 2022.
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
The Welsh Government published guidance for health boards and trusts on good working practice for the use of chaperones during intimate examinations or procedures within NHS Wales on 6 January 2020 (Official government response, 4 May 2022). No further published evidence has been identified since May 2022.
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
The Department for Education published the findings of a Call for Evidence on the children's homes workforce and a literature review on 8 July 2021 (Official government response, 4 May 2022). The UK government stated that it would continue to keep the recommendation for a professional register of the residential childcare sector under review. No further published evidence has been identified since May 2022.
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
The UK government stated on 19 December 2018 that the Home Office would ask the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to continue close engagement with professional bodies to ensure effective information sharing (Official government response, 4 May 2022). On 22 July 2019, the Home Office stated that no emerging issues had been identified. No further published evidence has been identified since May 2022.
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
The UK government initially accepted this recommendation in July 2019, stating that the Ministry of Justice had launched a compliance framework for the Victims' Code on 1 April 2019. However, in May 2023, the government stated that the operational demands of the COVID-19 pandemic meant the development of this compliance monitoring framework had not been possible, and that work would restart. No evidence of a joint inspection of Victims' Code compliance specifically for child sexual abuse victims has been identified (Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, last updated 4 May 2022; Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, published 6 April 2020).
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
The Association of British Insurers formally responded to this recommendation on 24 April 2019, raising questions about the merits and challenges of introducing a register of public liability insurers. This response was referred to in the IICSA Accountability and Reparations Investigation Report (Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, last updated 4 May 2022). No further published evidence regarding the introduction of such a register has been identified since the ABI's response in 2019.
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
The Civil Justice Council published a report on vulnerable witnesses and parties in civil proceedings in February 2020. Subsequently, in April 2021, the Civil Procedure Rules were amended to include Practice Direction 1A, which requires courts to provide special measures for vulnerable parties and witnesses in civil court cases (Civil Procedure Rules, Practice Direction 1A; Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, last updated 4 May 2022). While the government stated it decided to legislate for special measures, no specific primary legislation directly implementing this for civil courts has been identified.
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
The UK government initially accepted this recommendation in July 2019, with the College of Policing reporting progress on non-legislative changes such as testing a licence to practise scheme and redesigning the Strategic Command Course. However, in May 2023, the government stated that it had not identified any need for legislative changes to amend entry requirements for Chief Officer progression, and the recommendation was formally not accepted. The Home Office and College of Policing drew up a programme of non-legislative changes to ensure an understanding of safeguarding and vulnerability across all levels of policing leadership (Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, last updated 4 May 2022; Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, published 6 April 2020).
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
The Ministry of Justice established a cross-government working group with the Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education, and the Home Office, which gathered data on public expenditure for child sexual abuse support services in England. These departments reviewed public expenditure by February 2020, stating that the UK government's strategy on child sexual abuse aims to ensure effective support. However, no further published details on the specific findings regarding the effectiveness or detailed levels of this expenditure have been identified since February 2020.
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
The Welsh Government obtained data on public expenditure for support services for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in Wales by February 2022. The Welsh Government also requested that the National Independent Safeguarding Board for Wales verify these expenditure sums and assess their effectiveness. No further published evidence detailing the outcome of this verification or specific findings on effectiveness has been identified since February 2022.
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
The Ministry of Justice published terms of reference for a review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme on 18 December 2018, with a public consultation planned for later in 2019 (Govt response, 22 July 2019). Following this consultation, the Ministry of Justice stated on 14 May 2021 that it would not change the existing rule on unspent convictions, maintaining that individuals with such convictions should not be eligible for state-funded compensation (Govt response, 22 May 2023). The recommendation was officially not accepted as of 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
The UK government stated on 19 December 2018 that all Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) operational staff receive training on handling sexual abuse cases, including child sexual abuse (Govt response, 22 May 2023). CICA also provides specialist application support and named caseworkers for complex cases, including those affected by the former 'same roof' rule (Govt response, 22 July 2019; Govt response, 22 May 2023). The government's progress tracker indicated the recommendation was completed as of 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
The UK government confirmed on 22 July 2019 that the 'same roof' rule had been removed from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (Govt response, 22 July 2019). The amended scheme allows all past claimants who were refused compensation under this rule to reapply (Govt response, 22 May 2023). The government's progress tracker indicated the recommendation was completed as of 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
The UK government ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the 'Lanzarote Convention') on 20 June 2018 (Official government response, 22 May 2023). This action addressed the recommendation for ratification without further delay. No further published evidence specifically detailing the implementation actions following ratification has been identified since the ratification date.
UK Government (Primary)
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