Overview

• On the opening day, counsel said some children suffered grievous harm during lockdowns as school closures removed the “constant eyes” that often spot abuse and neglect.
• The inquiry said forthcoming evidence over four weeks will show a decline in referrals to social services during periods when classrooms were shut.
• Evidence from the National Crime Agency reported that restrictions put more children and offenders online, accelerating changes in child sexual abuse offending and exposing young people to more violent pornography and peer-on-peer abuse.
• The case of 16-year-old Kaylea Titford was highlighted, with a safeguarding review finding weakened multi-agency coordination during the pandemic contributed to her death.
• The schedule includes planned evidence from Boris Johnson and Professor Sir Chris Whitty, and child-welfare groups asked the government to acknowledge the harms to young people and issue an apology.