IICSA's final report: How to protect children?

• Looks at the findings and recommendations of the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which began work in 2015.
• Covers proposals on mandatory reporting, limitation periods, regulation and inspection.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published its final report last month—the culmination of a work programme which first started in 2015. How should we assess that report, and IICSA’s legacy?

What was IICSA?

IICSA was a statutory inquiry established pursuant to the Inquiries Act 2005, with legal powers to compel witnesses and require disclosure of documents. However, although it was investigating serious crime—child sexual abuse—IICSA was not a substitute criminal court. IICSA’s focus was not findings of fact about particular allegations of abuse, but rather institutional response to allegations. Its task was to examine how state and non-state institutions in England and Wales—churches, care homes, local authorities, police, prosecutors and other organisations—have