Overview

• The UK Government has announced the establishment of a child protection authority to address systemic failings highlighted by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
• A £5 million fund for local grooming gang inquiries will allow councils to choose between independent inquiries or alternative methods, raising concerns about diluted accountability.
• Critics, including Conservative MPs and Sir Trevor Phillips, allege political motivations behind the decision to avoid robust national or mandatory local inquiries.
• The government is doubling funding for national support services for adult survivors of child sexual abuse and introducing mandatory reporting laws as part of broader reforms.
• MPs and commentators have expressed frustration over the slow progress and perceived lack of transparency in implementing promised local investigations.