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What is happening with the child sexual abuse inquiry? How will the inquiry into historical child sexual abuse work?
(3 months later)
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has been dogged with controversy since its beginnings, be it lawyers quitting their posts, chairwomen coming and going, or victims' groups losing faith in the process. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales is to hold its first full public hearing on 27 February when it examines allegations made by children in care who were sent abroad.
As the inquiry continues its work, here is what you need to know. The inquiry aims to investigate claims against local authorities, religious organisations, the armed forces and public and private institutions - as well as people in the public eye. But it has been dogged with controversy since being announced in July 2014, be it chairwomen coming and going, lawyers quitting their posts or victims' groups losing faith in the process.
The major inquiry into historical child sex abuse in England and Wales is to examine claims made against local authorities, religious organisations, the armed forces and public and private institutions - as well as people in the public eye. Why was the inquiry set up?
Why has the inquiry been set up?
Reports of historical sexual abuse have sparked concern in recent years.
Following the death of BBC DJ Jimmy Savile in 2011, hundreds of people came forward to say he had abused them as children. The spotlight has also fallen on sexual assaults carried out in schools, children's homes and at NHS sites.Following the death of BBC DJ Jimmy Savile in 2011, hundreds of people came forward to say he had abused them as children. The spotlight has also fallen on sexual assaults carried out in schools, children's homes and at NHS sites.
At the same time, there have been claims of past failures by police and prosecutors to properly investigate allegations.At the same time, there have been claims of past failures by police and prosecutors to properly investigate allegations.
The inquiry was announced by the then Home Secretary Theresa May in July 2014 to "expose those failures and learn the lessons" from the past. The inquiry was announced by the then Home Secretary Theresa May to "expose those failures and learn the lessons" from the past.
How will the inquiry work?How will the inquiry work?
The inquiry is expected to take about five years to complete. The inquiry is expected to take about five years to complete, with a report containing recommendations being published at the end.
It will be divided into public hearings into specific areas of concern, with witnesses giving evidence on oath, research into institutional failures in child protection and the so-called "Truth Project" in which victims of child sexual abuse will share their experiences with the inquiry either in private interviews or written form. It will be divided into public hearings into specific areas of concern, with witnesses giving evidence under oath; research into institutional failures in child protection, and the so-called Truth Project in which victims will share their experiences with the inquiry either in private interviews or written form.
The inquiry will not seek to determine civil or criminal liability of individuals or organisations but may reach "findings of fact" in relation to this.The inquiry will not seek to determine civil or criminal liability of individuals or organisations but may reach "findings of fact" in relation to this.
It is liaising with police to co-ordinate a number of historical child sexual abuse probes and will pass on material relating to Scotland, Northern Ireland or British Overseas Territories. Allegations of child abuse received by the inquiry will be referred to police and material related to Scotland, Northern Ireland or British Overseas Territories will be passed on to the authorities there.
A report containing recommendations for the future will be published at the end. A separate inquiry looking at the abuse of children in care in Scotland has been set up by the Scottish Government.
Exactly what is being investigated? Who is carrying out the inquiry?
The first phase of the inquiry will consist of 13 separate investigations over a period of about 18 months. The inquiry is being led by Prof Alexis Jay, a former director of social services who headed the inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.
It will consider: She is being assisted by a panel of advisers: law professor and human rights expert Malcolm Evans; child protection barrister Ivor Frank; and lawyer Drusilla Sharpling, a former Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, who has worked as an inspector of constabulary since 2009.
The evidence given at the public hearings is expected to cover a number of other cases that have attracted headlines in recent years, including Cyril Smith and Peter Ball. A separate panel will represent victims and survivors.
Brian Altman QC is lead counsel to the inquiry.
What will the first hearings be about?
The inquiry will open with hearings over two weeks looking at the cases of British children in care who were sent to to parts of the British Empire including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and what was Southern Rhodesia between 1920 and the 1970s. The UK government issued an apology in 2010 for its role in the child migration programmes.
The hearings will take evidence from former child migrants and form part of a wider investigation into the way organisations have protected children outside the UK.
The hearings are being held at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in Fleet Street, central London.
Preliminary hearings in the inquiry began in March at the nearby Royal Courts of Justice.
What else is the IICSA investigating?
The first phase of the inquiry consists of 13 separate investigations over a period of about 18 months.
It will also consider:
The evidence given at the public hearings is expected to cover a number of other cases that have attracted headlines in recent years, including late MP Cyril Smith and claims of sexual abuse at care homes in north Wales.
So what has gone wrong?So what has gone wrong?
The main bone of contention has been the turbulent history over the past two years surrounding who is in charge.The main bone of contention has been the turbulent history over the past two years surrounding who is in charge.
The first chairwoman of the inquiry appointed in July 2014 was Baroness Butler-Sloss. However, she resigned just one week later after concerns arose around her links to the establishment - namely her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, who was attorney general in the 1980s.The first chairwoman of the inquiry appointed in July 2014 was Baroness Butler-Sloss. However, she resigned just one week later after concerns arose around her links to the establishment - namely her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, who was attorney general in the 1980s.
In September 2014, Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf was named the new head, but after disclosing she had been to five dinners with Lord Brittan - one of the people facing accusations at the time, which have since been dropped - she quit by the end of October. In September 2014, Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf was named the new head, but after disclosing she had been to five dinners with the late Lord Brittan - one of the people facing accusations at the time, which have since been dropped - she quit by the end of October.
In February 2015, Justice Lowell Goddard, a serving judge of the High Court of New Zealand, took over the reins and was in charge as inquiry began hearing directly from victims and survivors. But by August 2016, she had resigned her post as well due to "compounding difficulties" and her family life.In February 2015, Justice Lowell Goddard, a serving judge of the High Court of New Zealand, took over the reins and was in charge as inquiry began hearing directly from victims and survivors. But by August 2016, she had resigned her post as well due to "compounding difficulties" and her family life.
In October, the Times reported Justice Goddard had made "racist" remarks when in charge - something she strongly denies - and she has refused to appear in front of the Commons Home Affairs Committee to answer the criticism. A number of lawyers have also resigned or been removed from the process.
Now we are on chairwoman number four, Prof Alexis Jay, who was a former director of social services and headed the inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. In November 2016, he largest of the victims's groups involved in the inquiry, the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, pulled out and said it had lost confidence in the inquiry's leadership.
As well as the revolving door of chairwomen, a number of lawyers have resigned or been removed from the process. And public hearings into allegations of abuse relating to Lord Janner that were due to start in March have been delayed because of an "overlap" with a criminal investigation. His family are still calling for the strand of the inquiry to be dropped.
Ben Emmerson QC - the most senior lawyer in the inquiry - quit in September this year after being suspended due to "concerns about his leadership".
BBC Newsnight revealed the inquiry had dropped an investigation into Mr Emmerson despite being aware of an accusation of sexual assault against him. Mr Emmerson strongly denied any wrongdoing. A Home Affairs Select Committee report would later accuse the inquiry of a "wholly inadequate" response to the disclosure.
He was followed in October by Toby Fisher, one of the first lawyers appointed to the inquiry, who resigned amid worries of "the progress and direction" that was being taken.
And in November Aileen McColgan was the third to quit, also voicing worries over the leadership of the inquiry.
Finally, following through from threats made in September, the largest of the victims's groups involved in the inquiry, the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, pulled out and said it had lost confidence in the inquiry's leadership.
MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna has called for another new head to be appointed, whilst Home Secretary Amber Rudd has given her support to Prof Jay.
When will the public hearings begin?
Preliminary hearings began in March at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
In February 2017, there are plans for two weeks of hearings relating to the sexual abuse of British child migrants, who moved to parts of the British Empire between 1920 and 1970.
But public hearings into allegations of abuse relating to Lord Janner that were due to start on 7 March have now been delayed because of an "overlap" with the criminal investigation. His family are still calling for the strand of the inquiry to be dropped.
It is yet to be seen if this will lead to further delays as other hearings get pushed back.
How much is this all costing?How much is this all costing?
The IICSA has a budget of £17.9m in its first year, funded by the Home Office, with staff accounting for 41%.The IICSA has a budget of £17.9m in its first year, funded by the Home Office, with staff accounting for 41%.
Panel members will each receive £565 a day, whilst Prof Jay is to be paid £185,000 - almost half her predecessor's salary. Prof Jay is to be paid £185,000 - almost half her predecessor's salary - while panel members will each receive £565 a day.