Former child abuse inquiry chairwoman urges Government to act over 2022 report
The former head of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse has called for the “full implementation” of reforms set out in her 2022 report amid calls in Westminster for the Government to launch a fresh review.
Professor Alexis Jay distanced herself from demands for a new independent inquiry and said instead the introduction of measures like a child protection authority which she recommended two years ago was “critical”.
She said: “Our mission is not to call for new inquiries but to advocate for the full implementation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse’s recommendations. A child protection authority is critical to this process.”
In a statement, the Government said it was working “at pace” to deliver the reforms set out in the 2022 review, which found abuse was “endemic” across society in England and Wales.
“No child should ever suffer sexual abuse or exploitation and it is paramount we do more to protect vulnerable children – which is why we are working at pace across government to drive forward real action to implement the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse,” a spokesperson said.
“Professor Alexis Jay worked for seven years on a comprehensive independent inquiry and continues to work with survivors of these heinous crimes – and this Government is committed to working closely with survivors and expert groups like Act on IICSA.”
It comes as the Prime Minister is expected to respond on Monday to Elon Musk’s attacks on his record in tackling past grooming gang cases as director of public prosecutions (DPP).
Sir Keir Starmer has so far resisted speaking about the slew of online posts by the tech billionaire – who is a key member of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle – which included calling him “complicit in the rape of Britain”.
As DPP, Sir Keir brought in a national network of specialist prosecutors for child abuse and sexual exploitation to oversee convictions against grooming gangs, and changed guidance to focus on the credibility of allegations rather than whether victims would make good witnesses.
Mr Musk also posted on X, which he owns, suggesting safeguarding minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” for denying requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham and called her a “rape genocide apologist”.
Health minister Karin Smyth said his attacks on the Prime Minister were “wrong” and “most people in this country know that” as she spoke to broadcasters on Monday morning.
“It would be more helpful if Mr Musk wanted to use his platform to support victims,” she told Times Radio.
Asked whether she was worried about Ms Phillips’ safety, the minister said: “She’s a strong person. She will continue this work and we want to make sure that this work happens. That’s the critical thing here.”
Members of Sir Keir’s Cabinet defended their colleagues over the weekend, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemning the tech billionaire’s attacks on Ms Phillips as a “disgraceful smear”.
She and the Prime Minister have an “actual record of banging up rapists, paedophiles and sex offenders, so they don’t need lectures from anyone else”, he said.
Social media platforms can help to clamp down on those grooming children online if Mr Musk wants to “roll his sleeves up and actually do something about tackling violence against women and girls”, he said.
The Tesla and Space X boss took aim at Ms Phillips after she wrote to Oldham council saying it must follow other towns such as Rotherham and Telford and commission its own inquiry into historical abuse of children.
Labour is now facing calls for a new national inquiry from Reform UK and the Conservatives, the latter of which had refused a request for a public inquiry into events in Oldham while in government.
Sir Keir’s Government is against launching another nationwide probe and has said it is working to implement recommendations from Prof Jay’s inquiry, which concluded in 2022.
That inquiry looked into abuse by organised groups following multiple convictions of sexual offences against children across the UK between 2010-2014, including in Rotherham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Rochdale and Bristol.
Campaign group Act on IICSA, chaired by Prof Jay, has called on the Government to set out a timeline for putting in place its recommendations.
It has also urged it to set up a child protection authority to cover the key recommendations of standardising data collecting and sharing, enhancing analysis and identification of organised networks and abuse patterns, and proactively funding measures to prevent abuse and support victims and survivors.
Published: by Radio NewsHub