header-logo header-logo

Abolish time bar for child abuse victims now

31 May 2023
Issue: 8027 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal , Child law , Personal injury , Limitation
printer mail-detail
Personal injury lawyers have called for the limitation period for claims from victims of child abuse to be abolished with immediate effect.

Last week, the Home Office published its response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse's (IICSA’s) recommendations, including the recommendation that the time bar be abolished for abuse survivors. The Home Office responded that it would ‘consult on strengthening existing judicial guidance… and set out options to reform limitation law’.

However, Kim Harrison, executive committee member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, said a consultation was ‘completely unnecessary.

‘It is deplorable that the law in England and Wales expects survivors to bring their cases within three years of the abuse, or within three years of turning 18 if they were abused as a child, especially when the Scottish law has already abolished the time limit for abuse survivors. And it is unacceptable that the government is not taking action now.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
back-to-top-scroll