Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse reports findings in most UK religions

Fiona Scolding QC  was the lead counsel in this investigation which has heard countless shocking failings and blatant hypocrisy in the way major UK religious groups handle child sex abuse allegations. The inquiry was set up in July 2014 and has led to 16 reports so far with a final report due to be published in 2022. This report makes two recommendations: (i) that all religious organisations should have a child protection policy and supporting procedures; and (ii) that the government should legislate to amend the definition of full-time education to bring any setting that is the pupil’s primary place of education within the scope of a registered school, and provide Ofsted with sufficient powers to examine the quality of child protection when undertaking inspection of suspected unregistered schools. A full press release can be found on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse website. BBC News coverage may be read here.