Recommendation FR-2: Child Protection Authorities
From The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, published 20 October 2022.
Recommendation
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government establishes a Child Protection Authority for England and the Welsh Government establishes a Child Protection Authority for Wales. Each Authority's purpose should be to: improve practice in child protection; provide advice and make recommendations to government in relation to child protection policy and reform to improve child protection; and inspect institutions and settings as it considers necessary and proportionate. The Child Protection Authorities in England and in Wales should also monitor the implementation of the Inquiry's recommendations.
In brief (written by this site)
In July 2026, HM Government (Department for Education) confirmed in a consultation response that it is committed to establishing a Child Protection Authority in England (Department for Education, Jul 2026). It had previously stated in an April 2025 progress update that it would create the authority using the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel as a foundation (Home Office, Apr 2025). Earlier, in May 2024, the Thirlwall Inquiry legal team found that the government had planned to achieve the recommendation's aims through existing mechanisms rather than creating a new body (The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team, May 2024).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
We accept the need for a stronger safeguarding system. We will ensure the relevant actions included within our reform programme, Stable Homes, Built on Love, fulfil this recommendation.
Delivery
UK Government says in progress (7 July 2026)
Establishing a CPA was a key recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The CPA is intended to address longstanding weaknesses in the child protection system, including fragmented national leadership, inconsistent sharing and embedding of good practice, and a failure to translate learning into sustained improvement. Central to the CPA is the recognition that protecting children is a shared, multi-agency responsibility, requiring coordinated action across local government, police, health, education, the voluntary sector, the wider criminal justice sector and others working with children and families. There is a shared commitment across government to develop a strong and effective CPA that supports all sectors who work with children.
From: Establishing a Child Protection Authority in England: Government consultation response
Site note: The government's response to its consultation on establishing a Child Protection Authority, dated 7 July 2026 and published by the Department for Education. Its executive summary names the Authority as a key recommendation of the Inquiry.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
UK Government (9 April 2025)
The Government will create a Child Protection Authority (CPA) in England. This will help make the system clearer, more unified and ensure there is ongoing improvement through effective evidence-based support. Whilst a CPA will need a broader remit and stronger mechanisms for driving improvements, we believe the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (‘the Panel’) provides a strong foundation from which to build. The Panel operates independently of government and reports to the Secretary of State for Education as the lead Cabinet Minister for child protection and safeguarding. The Panel’s mission is to provide leadership on learning from serious cases across the child protection and safeguarding system. Its multi- agency composition reflects the focus on joint responsibility across safeguarding partners enshrined in law.
From: Tackling child sexual abuse: progress update (accessible version)
The tracker describes this as a long-term recommendation: systemic or cultural, with no single completion point.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (15 May 2024)
Government response to final report (25 May 2023): Accepted. “We will ensure the relevant actions included within our reform programme, Stable Homes, Built on Love, fulfil this recommendation.”
“…plan to achieve the desired effect of the recommendation without the creation of a new body, but rather ensuring that the existing mechanisms are all working as effectively and as cohesively as possible”
“The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, established in June 2018… an ideal body in England for providing some of the additional protections described in the Inquiry’s Final Report”.
Site note: The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's own notes on implementation, from its Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024). The review does not colour its Extent of Implementation cell for this recommendation green; it leaves the cell uncoloured where a recommendation was rejected, where evidence of implementation was insufficient, or where steps had been taken but implementation was not yet complete. Table row: section 31.2 No. 2, PDF page 856.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response, delivery statement - Thirlwall Inquiry legal team
Finding