London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Mar 19, 2026

'Redress scheme' announced for child sexual abuse victims

'Redress scheme' announced for child sexual abuse victims

Victims of child sexual abuse will be supported through a government "redress scheme", Suella Braverman has announced.
Speaking in response to the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) report, the home secretary said it was a "landmark day" for victims.

The IICSA report called the nature and scale of abuse in England and Wales "horrific and deeply disturbing".

The inquiry began in 2015 and drew on evidence from 7,000 victims.

Ms Braverman said she had been "moved" by the personal testimonies.

"This is a real problem of enormous scale and of devastating consequences and today's response to that inquiry report must mark a step change for victims and survivors," she said.

"That's why I'm announcing a new redress scheme to ensure that victims and survivors can secure some finality, some acknowledgement of what they've been through and, hopefully, some closure."

There will be a consultation with victims and the charities representing them to find out who the scheme should support and how.

It is not yet clear who will receive compensation, how much will be paid or how this will be funded.

The IICSA previously called for a redress scheme for victims, and recommended that those applying for compensation should have experienced abuse "where there is a clear connection to state or non-state institutions".

Asked by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper for a timetable, Ms Braverman said she did "not want to give victims and survivors the false impression that implementing these big commitments will happen overnight".

Ms Braverman said the government had accepted the need to act on 19 out of the IICSA report's 20 recommendations.

These include improving "the victims' experience of the criminal justice system, the criminal injuries compensation scheme, workforce regulation, access to records, consistent and compatible data and communications on the scale and nature of child sexual abuse".

In response, Ms Cooper said Ms Braverman saying the government accepted the need to act on the recommendations was not "the same as accepting the recommendations" or the same as setting out what action would be taken.

Speaking earlier about her plan to make it illegal not to report signs of child sexual abuse for those working with children, Ms Braverman said a "culture change" was needed and announced there would be a call for evidence on how best to implement this rule.

The public consultation will run for 12 weeks from Monday.

Ms Cooper said Labour had called for that change a decade ago and criticised the home secretary for setting up a call for evidence, telling the Commons "the inquiry gathered lots of evidence".

The IICSA report recommended this change to the law when its final report was published in October.

Chairwoman Prof Alexis Jay said the inquiry had heard "time and time again how allegations of abuse were ignored, victims were blamed and institutions prioritised their reputations over the protection of children".

Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael welcomed the move when it was first announced by the government last month, but said criminals would "continue to evade justice" unless court backlogs were cut and community policing restored.

Anna Edmundson, Head of Policy at the NSPCC, said the proposals from the IICSA were "welcome" but "needed to go further and faster".

She said: "It is disappointing that the Inquiry's clear recommendation that all child victims of sexual abuse should be guaranteed specialist, accredited therapeutic support is absent from the concrete commitments made by the government."

The IICSA was set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, due to concerns about inadequate safeguarding within organisations responsible for child safety.

Prof Jay described child sexual abuse as "an ever-growing problem exacerbated by current and future threat of the internet".
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK and Nigeria Reach Agreement to Accelerate Return of Irregular Migrants
UK Sets New Aid Priorities Following Significant Budget Reductions
Cyprus President Urges Open Dialogue Over Future of British Sovereign Base Areas
Cyprus President Urges Open Dialogue Over Future of British Sovereign Base Areas
UK Plans 50% Steel Tariffs in Bold Move to Protect Domestic Industry
Iran Conflict Sends Shockwaves Through UK Economy as Energy Costs and Trade Risks Surge
UK Health Officials Warn Kent Meningitis Outbreak Still Active as Cases Continue to Rise
UK Climate Progress Faces Scrutiny Over Reliance on Carbon Accounting Methods
UK Deploys Advisers to United States to Shape Plan for Reopening Strait of Hormuz
Amazon Bets on AI-Driven Alexa Upgrade to Revive UK Smart Speaker Market
UK Abortion Law Changes Spark Strong Response from Church Leaders and Pro-Life Advocates
UK Abortion Law Changes Spark Strong Response from Church Leaders and Pro-Life Advocates
GB News Faces Regulatory Complaints Over On-Air Remarks on ‘Genocide’ Claims
UK Signals Expanded Support for Gulf Allies as Iranian Attacks Intensify Regional Threats
UK VAT Decision Opens Path for Potential Refunds to U.S. Biopharma Firms
UK and Canada Advance ‘Middle Power’ Strategy to Shape Global Influence Beyond Superpowers
Google Explores AI Opt-Out Features in Search to Address UK Regulatory Concerns
Google Explores AI Opt-Out Features in Search to Address UK Regulatory Concerns
UK Fuel Prices Poised to Surge as Global Tensions Drive Oil Market Volatility
UK Fuel Prices Poised to Surge as Global Tensions Drive Oil Market Volatility
UK Holds Back on Hormuz Escort Mission While Continuing Talks with Allies
TrumpRx Pricing Platform Faces Scrutiny as Some Medicines Remain Costlier Than in the UK
UK, Netherlands and Finland Explore Joint Defence Investment Bank to Boost Military Capability
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in Kent Raises Alarm as Cases Surge and Emergency Response Expands
UK Security Adviser Viewed US-Iran Nuclear Deal as Within Reach Before Sudden Escalation
UK Prime Minister Urges Continued Focus on Ukraine Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
UK Introduces New Safeguards to Shield Lenders from Bank Run Risks
UK Promotional Products Market Surpasses £1.3 Billion as Demand Strengthens in 2025
Reeves Pushes for Deeper UK-EU Economic Ties to Revive Growth
UK Security Adviser Saw No Imminent Iranian Nuclear Threat Days Before War Erupted
France Signals Warm Welcome for UK Return to EU Single Market Amid Renewed Cooperation Talks
UK Defence Official Criticises Boeing Over Delays to E-7 Wedgetail Programme
UK Urged to Secure Quantum Talent as Minister Warns Against Repeating AI Setbacks
UK Mayors Set to Gain New Spending Powers Under Reeves’ Fiscal Devolution Plan
Western Allies Urge Restraint as Israel Weighs Expanded Ground Operation in Lebanon
Trump Warns NATO Faces ‘Very Bad’ Future Without Stronger Allied Support in Iran Conflict
UK Minister Says Britain Not Bound to Support Every Demand From U.S. President
Starmer Tells Trump Britain Will Not Be Drawn Into Wider Iran War
Starmer Tells Trump Britain Will Not Be Drawn Into Wider Iran War
UK Set to Introduce Steel Tariffs of Up to 50 Percent in New Industrial Strategy
European Governments Decline Trump’s Call to Send Warships to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Fears Over Iran Conflict Weigh on UK Consumer Confidence
Starmer Says UK Working With Allies on Hormuz Shipping Plan After Trump Raises Pressure
Iran War and Energy Shock Shake Britain’s Economy and Political Debate
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak at UK University Leaves Two Dead and Several Seriously Ill
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak at UK University Leaves Two Dead and Several Seriously Ill
King Charles and Queen Camilla Share Personal Tributes to Their Mothers on UK Mother’s Day
Prince William Honors Princess Diana with Mother’s Day Tribute
UK Economy Stalls in January as Households Cut Back on Eating Out
AI-Generated Singer Becomes Viral Voice for Iranians With New Anthem
×