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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 (5)

29
Accepted
Church of England religious communities safeguarding
Recommendation
The Church of England should introduce appropriate guidance which deals with safeguarding within the context of a religious community affiliated to the Church. It must ensure that these organisations meet adequate requirements for safeguarding and child protection. The needs of … Read more
Published evidence summary
The Church of England's National Safeguarding Steering Group stated on 27 June 2019 that the General Synod would be asked to give final approval to amending Canon 40 to include new provisions for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults within religious communities. The government's progress tracker, updated in May 2023, indicates this recommendation as completed. However, no specific legislation or guidance document confirming the amendment of Canon 40 has been identified in the provided official sources since the 2019 statement of intent.
Church of England (Primary)
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30
Accepted
Amend Canon C30 on safeguarding due regard
Recommendation
The Church of England should amend the current canon requiring clerics to comply with the Bishop's Guidance on Safeguarding. The use of the words 'due regard' in Canon C30 is an acceptable term of art, but lacks sufficient clarity. Very … Read more
Published evidence summary
The Church of England's General Synod approved the Safeguarding (Code of Practice) Measure on 26 April 2021, which strengthens and clarifies the obligation for clerics to follow safeguarding guidance by replacing the previous 'due regard' duty. This Measure came into force on 20 October 2021. The government's progress tracker, updated in May 2023, indicates this recommendation as completed.
Church of England (Primary)
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31
Accepted
DBS and training compliance for Church officers
Recommendation
Individuals engaged in regulated activity who have failed to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check or complete compulsory training should not be permitted to hold voluntary offices within the Church. Failure by ordained clergy to comply with either requirement … Read more
Published evidence summary
The Church of England agreed on 27 June 2019 that individuals in regulated roles who have not undergone a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or completed mandatory safeguarding training should not be permitted to continue in their voluntary roles. The Church of England also stated that leaders who knowingly allow volunteers to remain in regulated roles without fulfilling these requirements should be considered under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016. The government's progress tracker, updated in May 2023, indicates this recommendation as completed.
Church of England (Primary)
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32
Accepted
Send internal safeguarding reviews to national body
Recommendation

If religious organisations have undertaken internal reviews or enquiries into individual safeguarding incidents, their findings should be sent to the national review body (set up under the Children and Social Work Act 2017).

Published evidence summary
The Church of England stated on 27 June 2019 that its National Safeguarding Team would liaise with the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel to ensure appropriate cases are reported, aligning with principles in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' and the Children and Social Work Act 2017. On 12 July 2022, the Church of England reported that the House of Bishops guidance on safeguarding reviews was being updated to reflect this approach. The government's progress tracker, updated in May 2023, indicates this recommendation is accepted and in progress.
Church of England (Primary)
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70
Accepted
Include clergy in position of trust definition
Recommendation
The government should amend Section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 so as to include clergy within the definition of a position of trust. This would criminalise under s16-s20 sexual activity between clergy and a person aged 16-18, over … Read more
Published evidence summary
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022, amended Section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Section 47 of the 2022 Act extended the definition of a 'position of trust' to include religious leaders, thereby criminalising sexual activity between clergy and 16-18 year olds over whom they exercise pastoral authority (Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022; Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, last updated 4 May 2022).
UK Government (Primary)
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