Professor Alexis Jay's report wasn't asked to look at Grooming Gangs! She is wrong to say “we’ve had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions”. Her recommendations do need to be implemented but they don't go deep enough with regards identifying why and from where grooming gangs spring up and how these heinous crimes can be stopped.
In March 2015, the then Home Secretary established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Inquiry covered England and Wales. Its purpose and scope were set out in its Terms of Reference, which stated that it was to:
- consider the extent to which State and non-State institutions have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation;
- consider the extent to which these failings have since been addressed;
- identify further action needed to address any failings identified;
- consider the steps which it is necessary for State and non-State institutions to take in order to protect children from such abuse in future; and
- publish a report with recommendations.
State and non-State institutions referred to in the scope as examples of those within its remit included government departments, the Cabinet Office, Parliament and ministers, local authorities, the police, prosecuting authorities, schools including private and specialist education, religious organisations, health services and custodial institutions.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/iicsa-report-of-the-independ…
The released enquiry report made the following recommendations:
Recommendation 1: A single core data set
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.
Recommendation 2: Child Protection Authorities for England and for Wales
The Inquiry recommends that both the UK government and the Welsh government establishes a Child Protection Authority.
Recommendation 3: A cabinet Minister for Children
The Inquiry recommends that both the UK government and the Welsh government create a cabinet-level ministerial position for children.
Recommendation 4: Public awareness
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government and the Welsh Government commission regular programmes of activity to increase public awareness about child sexual abuse and the action to take if child sexual abuse is happening or suspected in England and in Wales.
Recommendation 5: Pain compliance
The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Sexual Abuse of Children in Custodial Institutions: 2009–2017 Investigation Report, dated February 2019) that the UK government prohibits the use of any technique that deliberately induces pain.
Recommendation 6: Children Act 1989
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government amends the Children Act 1989 so that, in any case where a court is satisfied that there is reasonable cause to believe that a child who is in the care of a local authority is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing significant harm, on an application by or for that child, the court may:
- prohibit a local authority from taking any act (or proposed act) which it otherwise would be entitled to take in exercising its parental responsibility for the child; or
- give directions for the purpose of determining a specific question which has arisen, or which may arise, in connection with any aspect of the local authority’s exercise of parental responsibility for a child.
Recommendation 7: Registration of care staff in children’s homes
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government introduces arrangements for the registration of staff working in care roles in children’s homes, including secure children’s homes.
Recommendation 8: Registration of staff in care roles in young offender institutions and secure training centres
The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Sexual Abuse of Children in Custodial Institutions: 2009–2017 Investigation Report, dated February 2019) that the UK government introduces arrangements for the professional registration of staff in roles responsible for the care of children in young offender institutions and secure training centres.
Recommendation 9: Greater use of the barred list
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government enables any person engaging an individual to work or volunteer with children on a frequent basis to check whether or not they have been barred by the Disclosure and Barring Service from working with children.
Recommendation 10: Improving compliance with the statutory duty to notify the Disclosure and Barring Service
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government takes steps to improve compliance by regulated activity providers with their statutory duty to refer concerns about the suitability of individuals to work with children to the Disclosure and Barring Service ...
Recommendation 11: Extending disclosure regime to those working with children overseas
The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Children Outside the United Kingdom Phase 2 Investigation Report, dated January 2020) that the UK government introduces legislation permitting the Disclosure and Barring Service to provide enhanced certificates with barred list checks to citizens and residents of England and Wales ...
Recommendation 12: Pre-screening
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government makes it mandatory for all regulated providers of search services and user-to-user services to pre-screen for known child sexual abuse material.
Recommendation 13: Mandatory reporting
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government and Welsh Government introduce legislation which places certain individuals – ‘mandated reporters’ – under a statutory duty to report child sexual abuse ...
Recommendation 14: Compliance with the Victims’ Code
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government commissions a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims’ Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse ...
Recommendation 15: Limitation
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government makes the necessary changes to legislation in order to ensure:
- the removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in respect of their abuse; and
- the express protection of the right to a fair trial, with the burden falling on defendants to show that a fair trial is not possible.
Recommendation 16: Specialist therapeutic support for child victims of sexual abuse
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government and the Welsh Government introduce a national guarantee that child victims of sexual abuse will be offered specialist and accredited therapeutic support.
Recommendation 17: Access to records
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government directs the Information Commissioner’s Office to introduce a code of practice on retention of and access to records known to relate to child sexual abuse. The retention period for records known to relate to allegations or cases of child sexual abuse should be 75 years with appropriate review periods.
Recommendation 18: Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government amends the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme ...
Recommendation 19: Redress scheme
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government establishes a single redress scheme in England and Wales ...
Recommendation 20: Age verification
The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its The Internet Investigation Report, dated March 2020) that the UK government introduces legislation requiring providers of online services and social media platforms to implement more stringent age verification measures.
