The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales took seven years. Its chair, Prof Alexis Jay, was the fourth person to take up the role after three previous appointees resigned. Some survivors’ groups lost confidence in the process and decided not to participate. But 6,000 victims did contribute, along with hundreds of expert witnesses. The report into decades of child sexual abuse, and the role of multiple institutions in enabling it, was published last October.
The response to its 20 recommendations offered last week by the home secretary, Suella Braverman, was inadequate, and justifiably regarded as insulting by many of those who were involved. Interviewed by the BBC, Prof Jay described the measures announced as “vague, unspecific, without a timeline”. This inquiry was a monumental task that made huge demands on those involved – above all, the victims and survivors who testified and in many cases engaged closely with difficult questions about how to ensure such abhorrent events are not repeated.
This lack of urgency from ministers is deeply disappointing. So is the gap between the rhetoric of concern and shock at the horrors described, and the substance of the plans produced in response. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, was not in the Commons chamber for Ms Braverman’s announcement. The education secretary, Gillian Keegan, was there but said nothing – even though the government says she is the de facto cabinet minister for children (making the creation of a new role, which was proposed by the inquiry, redundant). In particular, there is anger that further consultation is to be carried out before a compensation scheme is introduced, and before the three-year limit on civil claims is lifted (the three years starts from the age of 18, which means that a person abused as a child currently has until they are 21 to seek damages). The inquiry has spent years examining these issues already, and reviewing schemes in other countries.
There should be no need for delay in the registration of staff working in children’s homes, secure training centres and young offender institutions. The use of pain-inducing restraint techniques in children’s prisons should end. The dehumanising message sent by ministers’ rejection of this recommendation is that, when dealing with this group of children, violence works.
A new legal obligation to report child sexual abuse is among the inquiry’s key recommendations. This is regarded as essential by victims and experts, who think institutions will otherwise continue to put their reputations first. Given the track records of councils, churches, and the BBC in the case of Jimmy Savile, the fear is justified. Consultation on the detail of these proposals must not lead to stasis. Similarly, with 103,000 sexual offences against children recorded in England and Wales last year, the expansion of specialist support services for survivors cannot wait.
The shortcomings in the response to the inquiry undermine this policymaking model, whereby ministers commission experts to examine an issue and make recommendations. If these can be ignored or delayed, then what is the point? Campaigners, charities including the NSPCC, and MPs must put pressure on Mr Sunak’s government to follow up on its commitments – and validate the colossal effort that went into the inquiry. The report, and the courage of the survivors who contributed to it, should be a spur as well as a resource.
• In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
