Child Abuse Inquiry Publishes Accountability And Reparations Report

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has produced its Accountability and Reparations Investigation Report.

The report examines the extent to which the civil justice system, criminal compensation system and support services currently provide effective accountability and reparations to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. In response to that examination, several recommendations have been made to improve the system.

Outcome of the investigation

Survivors, insurers, local authorities, police officers and lawyers were all part of the consultation process. The objectives of achieving accountability and reparations in cases involving child sexual abuse can be seen through many prisms, whether "punishing offenders, holding institutions to account [and] acknowledging abuse" or apologies, explanations, compensation and redress.

The report concluded existing civil justice and criminal compensation systems and support services are not designed to fulfil these objectives, and are "frustrating, hostile and ultimately futile".

The recommendations hope to make "seeking redress a less complex and distressing process for extremely vulnerable people."

Recommendations

National register

The report proposes a national register of public liability insurance policies. It is suggested that the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Department for Work and Pensions and the Financial Conduct Authority work together to achieve this. The register would be expected to provide details of:

The relevant organisation The name of the insurer All relevant contact details The period of cover The insurance limit Similar in format to The Employers' Liability Tracing Office, this proposal would help survivors of child sexual abuse to trace the relevant public liability insurers with less difficulty. However, a register such as this will require industry wide participation and co-operation, and the practicalities of creating a register of this volume are not without issue. Not least is the fact that PL insurance has never been compulsory, so the absence of a record of insurance may only mean there was no insurance in place.

Codes of practice

It is proposed that the Local Government Association and the ABI produce respective codes of practice for responding to and handling civil claims arising out of child sexual abuse. These codes would be expected to recognise the long-term psychiatric or psychological and emotional effects of child sexual abuse...