FR-1 Response Accepted in Part

Single Core Data Set

Recommendation

The Inquiry recommends that the UK government and the Welsh Government improve data collected by children's social care and criminal justice agencies concerning child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation by the introduction of one single core data set covering both England and Wales. In order to facilitate this, these agencies should produce consistent and compatible data about child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation which includes: the characteristics of victims and alleged perpetrators of child sexual abuse, including age, sex and ethnicity; factors that make victims more vulnerable to child sexual abuse or exploitation; and the settings and contexts in which child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation occur. Data concerning child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation should be compiled and published on a regular basis. This should be capable of being collated nationally as well as at regional or local levels.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
- The UK Government stated in May 2023 that it was driving improvements to police performance data and data collection on child sexual abuse (Government response to IICSA, 22 May 2023, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-iicsas-accountability-and-reparations-report). - The Office for National Statistics is scheduled to publish data from the Safety During Childhood Survey in December 2025 (IICSA Recommendation Progress Report, 8 April 2025). - Professor Alexis Jay told the Home Affairs Select Committee in January 2025 that none of the Inquiry's 20 final recommendations had been implemented (Home Affairs Select Committee, 21 January 2025).
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-3-flash-preview on 24 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
K.1
Response
Accepted in Part
Accepted in Part UK Government
22 May 2023

We accept that robust data collection on the scale and nature of child sexual abuse is critical to underpin and drive a more effective response to child sexual abuse. We have made a number of improvements in data collection and will additionally be driving further improvements to police performance data.

Read Full Response
Progress Timeline
Official Report
08 Apr 2025

Implementing consistent data collection across agencies; supporting ONS Safety During Childhood Survey. Key milestones: December 2025 for CSEW data publication, Autumn 2025/Spring 2026 for survey pilot, late 2026 for estimates for ages 18-25, and mid/late 2027 for full prevalence estimate.

Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

No Meaningful Progress
21 Jan 2025
Home Affairs Select Committee Select Committee

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."

View detailed findings

As of December 2024, none of the 20 final report recommendations had been implemented. The previous government's response was described by Prof Jay as "very weak and, at times, apparently disingenuous."

Home Affairs Committee hearing, 21 January 2025 View Source
Source
Inquiry IICSA
Report The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse 20 Oct 2022
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Recommendation age 3.4 yrs
Last formal update 08 Apr 2025