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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 (7)

6
Accepted
Redraft canonical crimes as crimes against the child
Recommendation

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales should request that the Holy See redraft the canonical crimes relating to child sexual abuse as crimes against the child.

Published evidence summary
- The Catholic Council for the Inquiry confirmed in September 2021 that Book VI of the Code of Canon Law had been redrafted to frame child abuse as an offence committed against the dignity of the human person (Ministerial letter: Updates on recommendations from the Accountability and Reparations Investigation Report, May 2022, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-iicsas-accountability-and-reparations-report).
Catholic Bishops Conference (Primary)
View Details
7
Accepted
Catholic complaints policy with escalation process
Recommendation
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and the Conference of Religious should publish a national policy for complaints about the way in which a safeguarding case is handled. The policy should deal with communication with complainants during the … Read more
Published evidence summary
AI analysis did not return a result for this recommendation.
Catholic Bishops Conference (Primary)
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47
Accepted
Catholic lead clergy for safeguarding
Recommendation
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and the Conference of Religious in England and in Wales should each nominate a lead member of the clergy for safeguarding to provide leadership and oversight on safeguarding matters to their respective … Read more
Published evidence summary
- The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 April 2021 that Bishop Paul Mason was appointed as Lead Bishop for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 April 2021 that Fr David Smolira SJ was appointed as Lead Safeguarding Religious (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - No further published evidence has been identified since May 2023.
Catholic Bishops Conference (Primary)
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48
Accepted
Mandatory Catholic safeguarding training
Recommendation
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales should ensure that safeguarding training is mandatory for all staff and volunteers in roles where they work with children or victims and survivors of abuse. It should also be a requirement that … Read more
Published evidence summary
- The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 April 2021 that baseline safeguarding training was mandated for clergy and parish safeguarding representatives, supplemented by biennial refresher training (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 April 2021 that the reach of mandatory training was extended to include volunteers (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - No further published evidence has been identified since May 2023.
Catholic Bishops Conference (Primary)
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49
Accepted
Catholic non-compliance framework
Recommendation
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and the Conference of Religious should publish a clear framework for dealing with cases of non-compliance with safeguarding policies and procedures. That framework should identify who is responsible for dealing with issues … Read more
Published evidence summary
- The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 September 2021 that the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) was established as a professional standards agency for the Catholic Church (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 September 2021 that the CSSA includes a dedicated audit function with powers of sanction to provide a framework for non-compliance with the national safegu (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - No further published evidence has been identified since May 2023.
Catholic Bishops Conference (Primary)
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50
Accepted
Independent validation of Catholic audit programme
Recommendation

The Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service should have the effectiveness of its audit programme regularly validated by an independent organisation which is external to the Church. These independent reports should be published.

Published evidence summary
- The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 September 2021 that the CSSA Board committed to independent verification of its audit processes and would appoint a suitable external body (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - The Catholic Council for the Inquiry stated on 30 September 2021 that the CSSA would work with Dioceses and Religious Life Groups to ensure awareness of what would cons (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - No further published evidence has been identified since May 2023.
Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (Primary)
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51
Accepted
Review Catholic safeguarding policies manual
Recommendation

The Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service should review its policies and procedures manual and the documents within it to ensure that they are consistent, easier to follow and more accessible.

Published evidence summary
- The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency website was launched in November 2021, containing the National Safeguarding Standards, the National Safeguarding Policy, and practice guidance documents (Government Response to IICSA Recommendations, HM Government, May 2023). - No further published evidence has been identified since May 2023.
Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (Primary)
View Details