Recommendation FR-14: Victim Code Compliance
From The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, published 20 October 2022.
Recommendation
The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Interim Report, dated April 2018) that the UK government commissions a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims' Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, to be undertaken by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation.
In brief (written by this site)
In January 2026, Ministry of Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones stated that the government accepted the recommendation and the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates have confirmed the joint inspection of Victims' Code compliance will take place in 2026-27 (Alex Davies-Jones, Jan 2026). HM Government had previously reported in April 2025 that it asked the inspectorates to prioritise an inspection into the experiences of child sexual abuse victims in their business plan (Home Office, Apr 2025).
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 to ensure compliance with the Victims Code. The Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates have included an inspection on the ‘experiences of victims of child sexual abuse of the criminal justice system’ in their 2023-25 inspection programme, with Code compliance proposed to feature. We will also consider this recommendation through the Victims and Prisoners Bill, with complementary measures to improve victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system.
Delivery
Ministry of Justice says in progress (20 January 2026)
The Government accepted recommendation 14 from the Inquiry to commission a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims’ Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. The Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates have confirmed that the inspection will take place in 2026-27.
UK Government says in progress (9 April 2025)
The Government has asked the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates (CJJI) to include an inspection on the experiences of victims of child sexual abuse in the criminal justice system, including compliance with the Victims’ Code, in their 2025-27 Business Plan as a priority. This would build on their 2023 inspection which looked at Victims’ Code compliance for victims of other crime types and focus on issues that affect CSA victims in particular. We are awaiting confirmation of the final programme, which we expect later this Spring.
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.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response, delivery statement - Ministry of Justice
Delivery statement