The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (“SCAI”) is already investigating 69 institutions. Continue reading
Developments in the political arena in Northern Ireland and implications for Redress and the HIAI recommendations
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, made a number of announcements on the 6 September 2018 concerning the political impasse in Northern Ireland. While the cut to the pay of the MLAs made the headlines it was the discussion about the role of the Civil Service and decision making powers that may be of significantly greater relevance. Continue reading
Scottish update
A Scottish Government commissioned panel, the Scottish Human Rights Commission InterAction Action Plan Review Group, has reported to the Scottish Government that the state has a duty to ensure effective remedies for violations of human rights, including abuse in care. The panel has called for legislation on this by the end of the Scottish parliamentary session in 2021. It has also recommended that there should be an early payment scheme in place to benefit older survivors of abuse in residential care settings. The Scottish Government has undertaken to give these recommendations “early, detailed and sensitive consideration” and to “report back to parliament in due course”. Continue reading
Children’s Services – in Crisis?
Despite IICSA opening its doors in July 2015 and including in its focus the work of local authorities children’s services the length and breadth of the country continue to be plagued with problems, probes, enquiries, intervention, financial crises, adverse press interest and funding difficulties. Continue reading
Update of the current IICSA investigations
| Investigation | Current position |
| Cambridge House, Knowl View and Rochdale | On 12 April 2018 the IICSA published its report. The Panel provided an Executive Summary and drew a number of the conclusions. The Inquiry made no recommendations because they will be considering evidence that is relevant to the protection of children in the care of local authorities in the outstanding local authority as well as in some of the thematic investigation. They consider they will then be better placed to make overarching recommendations. Despite this, the Inquiry expect the public bodies involved in this investigation to reflect on their report and make changes to their practice as necessary to protect children in the future. See our earlier blog for details of the report’s conclusions: https://blmabusenewsblog.com/2018/04/12/iicsas-second-report-cambridge-house-knowl-view-and-rochdale/. |
| Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks | The Inquiry is not accepting applications for Core Participant (CP) status or requesting evidence currently.
The Inquiry is encouraging all victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to share their experience. |
| Accountability and Reparations | A preliminary hearing took place on 8 May 2018 to provide an update on the latest developments.
Since the last preliminary hearing IICSA has granted CP status to four victim/survivors from St Aidan’s, another victim/survivor for Forde Park and another victim/survivor for Stanhope Castle. In total there are now 41 CP victims and survivors across the case study institutions. 26 finalised statements have now been received. It has been reiterated that the investigation will not examine or resolve disputed factual issues relating to the underlying abuse. IICSA’s proposals for the focus of the w case studies are:
A further and final preliminary hearing has been listed for 25 September 2018 to deal with any outstanding matters ahead of the public hearings which run from 26 November to 13 December 2018. |
| Children in Custodial Institutions | Public hearings were held in July 2018 for 2 weeks. The investigation examined the prevalence and culture of child sexual abuse in custody as well as the institutional responses to those allegations. The current safeguarding and child protection policies were also examined. During the hearings a selection of allegations of recent sexual abuse were analysed in relation to Her Majesty’s Young Offender Institutions at Feltham and Werrington; Medway and Rainsbrook Secure Training Centres; Vinney Green Secure Unit; and Aycliffe Secure Centre.
A report on this phase of the investigation is expected in early 2019. |
| The Internet | A week of public hearings was held from 22-26 January 2018.
Applications will be requested for more CPs in due course. As the investigation is currently narrowly focused to consider the response of law enforcement agencies no internet specific organisation is a CP. |
| Investigation into the Institutional Responses to Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse involving the late Lord Janner of Braunstone QC | In April 2017 the Inquiry published a Notice of Determination and revised the scope of this investigation. IICSA does not wish to prejudice the investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Leicestershire Police.
No further updates. |
| Children in the Care of Nottinghamshire Councils | A second preliminary hearing was held on 31 January 2018.
The public hearings start on 1 October 2018. There are currently 90 CPs including 83 individuals who allege that they were sexually abused whilst in the care of Nottinghamshire Councils. |
| Child Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Church | The first public hearing in relation to the Chichester Diocese case study was held in March 2018. There were twenty themes and issues being considered.
A hearing in connection with the Peter Ball case study was held last week. A further public hearing relating the wider Anglican Church will proceed in 2019. |
| Child Sexual Abuse in Residential Schools | Currently no CPs designated but applications are likely to be called for in September 2018. In its interim report IICSA identified it does not intend to name specific school led case studies but rather to consider themes across schools including governance, reporting and whistleblowing, recruitment and termination of employment, inspection and monitoring, and culture |
| Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Linked to Westminster | Three weeks of public hearings will take place from 4 March 2019. |
| Protection of Children Outside the UK | The Panel’s report, it’s first on all of its investigations, into the Child Migration Case Study was published on 1 March 2108. See our previous blog for details of the recommendations made: https://blmabusenewsblog.com/2018/03/27/iicsas-first-report/.
The second case study in this investigation is examining whether the civil framework is adequate for preventing, and notifying foreign authorities of, foreign travel by individuals known to the UK authorities as posing a risk to children. A public hearing on this case study will take place in February 2019. |
| Children in the Care of Lambeth Council | Preliminary hearings were held in this investigation in March and July 2016.
IICSA are reviewing vast quantities of information before a public hearing is scheduled. It has recently sought submissions from CPs on proposals for the investigation to focus on three case studies on the following homes: Angell Road, Southvale Assessment Centre and Shirley Oaks |
| Child Sexual Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church | Further public hearings relating to the Archdiocese of Birmingham case study will take place from 12-16 November 2018.
Public hearings relating to the Ealing Abbey case study will commence on 4 February 2019. Initial hearings which focused on the Benedictine Order, in particular at Ampleforth and Downside were held in November 2017. The report in connection with those hearings will be published on 9 August 2018. |
Authored by Miriam Rahamim, BLM
Education & Health sectors – abuse allegations
The National College of Training and Leadership (the Teacher Regulation Agency) has had its statistics in relation to teacher bans analysed and sexually motivated inappropriate conduct was found to be the reason in a third of them. Continue reading
Football – an update
It has been reported in the press that the Football Association’s independent Inquiry into historical allegations of sexual abuse has found no evidence of organised institutional abuse or a cover-up. The Inquiry, headed by Clive Sheldon QC, was launched in December 2016, following numerous high profile allegations of sexual abuse, and the final report is expected to be delivered to the Football Association in September 2018. It is understood that the Inquiry team has to date interviewed 35 survivors of abuse and another 70 people who were involved in the sport at the relevant time. It is also understood that the Inquiry team has had access to around 13,000 documents. The final report is still expected to be critical and to find failings by both individuals and football clubs themselves. The Inquiry team is now writing to a number of institutions and individuals to give them advance warning of the contents of the final report so that they may have the opportunity to respond prior to the report being finalised. Continue reading
