London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Mar 16, 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
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
London Private Club Founder Plans Exclusive Palm Beach Venue Near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
Ed Davey Urges Britain to Build Fully Independent Nuclear Missile Capability
What the UK Covid Inquiry Is and How It Investigates Britain’s Pandemic Response
What the UK Covid Inquiry Is and How It Investigates Britain’s Pandemic Response
US Treasury Links British Polo Patrons to Alleged Venezuelan Oil Proceeds Laundering Scheme
Hundreds Gather in London Despite Ban on Annual Pro-Palestinian March
Two Dead and Multiple Students Seriously Ill After Invasive Meningitis Outbreak at UK University
UK Considers Deploying Ships and Mine-Hunting Drones to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Starmer and Trump Discuss Urgent Need to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Visit Draws Mixed Reaction From Local Communities
Trump Calls on France and UK to Help Safeguard Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route
Boris Johnson Labels Bitcoin a ‘Ponzi Scheme’, Sparking Debate in Crypto World
UK Considers Targeted Aid for Vulnerable Households as Energy Costs Rise
Stellantis Urges Immediate Review of UK Electric Vehicle Sales Targets
Home Office Reverses Course to Allow Some Dual Nationals to Enter UK Using EU Passports
Reform UK Proposes Replacing Top Civil Servants With Officials Aligned to Government Agenda
Netflix Adds Critically Acclaimed ‘Best Film of 2025’ With Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score
‘The Sums Don’t Add Up’: UK Farmers Hit by Soaring Costs as Iran War Disrupts Global Supplies
Confidential UK Biobank Health Records Found Online After Researchers Accidentally Expose Data
Trump Urges Britain and Allies to Deploy Warships to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Trump Urges Britain and Allies to Deploy Warships to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Middle East War Highlights Strategic Importance of Strong UK–Ireland Cooperation
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
×