Richard Scorer & Kim Harrison provide an update on the work of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse & consider its future role
- The Westminster investigation is only one part of IICSA’s work.
- The value and long-term legacy of IICSA will be judged much more on whether and how it transforms child protection and safeguarding across a much wider range of institutions.
On 25 February the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published its report into ‘allegations of child sexual abuse and exploitation involving people of public prominence associated with Westminster’. As the media highlighted in its coverage, the report rejected the notion of a VIP ‘paedophile ring’ in Westminster but also identified a series of individual cases where persons of prominence escaped prosecution for child sexual offences by exercising undue influence. The report led to the resignation of the former Liberal Party leader, David Steel, from his party and the House of Lords. Steel was criticised by IICSA for failing to act against a party colleague, the late Sir Cyril Smith
