We welcome yesterday’s statement from Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary, and the previous comments made by the Prime Minister and Health Secretary on the government’s plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA). We are especially pleased that mandatory reporting in England will be included in the Crime and Policing Bill that is expected to be introduced to Parliament in the spring. Additionally, we fully support the establishment of a new victim-survivor panel to oversee the proposed reforms and improvements to an effective dataset to combat these crimes. We also welcome the proposal to address the issue of grooming.
As the UK’s leading independent Christian safeguarding charity, a core participant in the Inquiry, and a member of the IICSA Changemakers group, we are pleased that the government has promised to act on these critical issues after a two-year delay. However, beyond those elements specifically addressed by the Home Secretary this week, further recommendations deserve implementation, including establishing a new Child Protection Authority to coordinate efforts across the government. Yesterday the Home Secretary did not give any insight into the wider details or timeline of her plans, but we urge her to avoid any further delays, communicate her plans clearly and act swiftly to rebuild trust and prevent further frustration and distress for survivors and others.
Justin Humphreys, CEO, Thirtyone:eight says,
“The events of the last few days have yet again highlighted how we are failing to protect children from abuse in this country. We are pleased to hear that the Prime Minister is committed to the implementation of all 20 of the IICSA recommendations and we look forward to hearing more details about the program and timeline for this without further delay. The recommendations of the Inquiry offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something significant. The time for action is now.”
Thirtyone:eight is committed to working with the Government and others to help fulfil our collective duty to protect children and adults and provide justice for survivors of child sexual abuse. Our manifesto – Together we can, a manifesto for a safer society, outlines our key asks across the UK. Through the focus provided in our manifesto and our role as Secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Communities, whose inaugural post-election meeting takes place on 27th January, we will seek to work together to achieve the level of change the Inquiry has recommended and that the brave testimony of survivors has shown us needs to happen.