The Government has come under fire for allegedly diluting efforts to tackle grooming gangs and child sexual abuse, as it revealed plans to establish a new child protection authority — a move that critics say falls short of long-awaited commitments.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips announced on Tuesday that the new authority would build on the existing national child safeguarding review panel, marking a response to one of the 20 key recommendations set out in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) final report, published in 2022.
However, the Government faced immediate criticism for failing to provide updates on the progress of local inquiries into grooming gangs — inquiries that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had promised in January as part of a wider plan to tackle the “epidemic” of child sexual abuse across England and Wales.
Ms Phillips told MPs the IICSA report should have marked a turning point in how the nation addresses child protection but conceded that victims were let down by delays under the previous Conservative administration.
“This Government will establish a new child protection authority,” she said. “Building on the national child safeguarding review panel, the child protection authority will address one of IICSA’s central recommendations for national leadership and learning on safeguarding. Work to expand the panel’s role will begin immediately, with consultation on the new authority to follow later this year.”
Despite this pledge, many MPs expressed frustration over the lack of tangible progress. Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam accused ministers of ducking responsibility: “In January, the Home Secretary said the Government would conduct five local inquiries into the rape gangs which have terrorised so many innocent children. Over three months on, there’s been little clarity, and even Tom Crowther KC, the barrister helping to establish the inquiries, remains largely in the dark.”
Ms Lam insisted that local inquiries are inadequate, arguing they lack the power to compel witnesses and examine systemic national issues such as deportation policies. “Now the Government is watering them down even further,” she said. “We won’t let them get away with it.”
Tory MP Robbie Moore echoed the sentiment, branding the update “infuriating” and accused the Government of delivering a hollow statement on the eve of the Easter recess.
“The Government have all but admitted that no real progress has been made on their promise to launch five local rape gang inquiries,” he said.
Ms Phillips responded by defending the wider scope of the Government’s approach: “It’s a shame she [Ms Lam] only referred to one type of victim, when this statement covers all child abuse victims. There should be no hierarchy.”
She went on to highlight the extensive findings of previous inquiries, including those into Rotherham and Rochdale, and the statutory inquiry undertaken by IICSA over seven years.
Pointing to the Government’s wider child protection agenda, Ms Phillips revealed that the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new mandatory reporting duty for individuals working with children, and a criminal offence for obstructing those who try to report abuse.
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“Mandatory reporting will create a culture of openness and honesty, rather than cover-ups and secrecy,” she said.
The IICSA report’s recommendations include the introduction of mandatory reporting laws for those in positions of trust, a national compensation scheme for survivors, and better therapeutic support for adult survivors of abuse.
Ms Phillips added that national funding for adult survivor services would be doubled, with more information on support programmes to follow in the coming weeks.
Despite the unveiling of the new authority, many remain sceptical, arguing that until the Government delivers on its promises for meaningful grooming gang inquiries, victims of child sexual abuse will continue to be let down.
As public pressure mounts and scrutiny intensifies, all eyes are now on the Government to turn pledges into action — and to ensure that no more survivors are left waiting for justice.
