The Inquiry has published its final Report today – Thursday 20 October 2022.

It follows:

• 325 days of public hearings with 725 witnesses

• 2,457,543 pages of evidence being processed

• The publication of the Interim report, 19 investigation reports, 24 research reports, eight engagement reports

• Eight seminars

• Over 6,000 experiences shared with the Truth Project

• 87 recommendations for change made

The inquiry says its 20 key recommendations need to be accepted by government as a “matter of urgency”.

These include a new law placing a duty to report child abuse on anyone who witnessed it or was told about it by children or perpetrators.

Not doing so would result in a criminal offence unless the behaviour was consensual and non-abusive between young people of similar ages.

This would cover “anyone working with children”, an inquiry official said, as defined under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

There is currently no legal, criminal requirement to report child sexual abuse, although people may be required to under the terms of their employment or codes of conduct. Wales has a statutory duty to report but no sanction for not doing so.

The recommendation of mandatory reporting, will be widely welcomed by campaigners who say it is critical to preventing institutions covering up abuse to protect their reputations.

The inquiry also argues for new child protection authorities for England and Wales – and a new, single scheme for compensating victims of abuse.

It dismissed concerns that victims might “lie for money” as “misplaced and offensive” and said victims found current legal systems “hostile, baffling and futile” and often gave up trying to claim.

The inquiry demanded that the government require providers of internet search services and social networks to pre screen material for child abuse, before it is uploaded.

The concluding recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

1. A single set of core data relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation.
2. Child Protection Authorities for England and for Wales.
3. A cabinet-level Minister for Children.
4. A public awareness campaign.
5. Prohibiting the use of pain compliance techniques.
6. The amendment of the Children Act 1989.
7. Registration of care staff in children’s homes.
8. Registration of staff in care roles in young offender institutions and secure training centres.
9. Greater use of the Disclosure and Barring Service barred list.
10. Improvements to compliance with statutory duties to refer concerns to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
11. Extending the disclosure regime to those working with children overseas.
12. Pre-screening for illegal images of children.
13. Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in certain circumstances.
14. Compliance with the Victims’ Code.
15. The removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.
16. A national guarantee of specialist therapeutic support for child victims.
17. A code of practice on access to records about child sexual abuse.
18. Further changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
19. A tiered redress scheme.
20. Age verification in relation to online services and social media platforms.