Child abuse inquiry: Victims must be offered more legal support, by Ian Woods, Sky News (April 25, 2018)

The long running inquiry into child sexual abuse has recommended that victims be offered more legal support, and the rules be changed on claiming compensation.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales is midway through its work, but has issued an interim report based on its findings so far.

Its 18 recommendations include better training for senior police officers in dealing with cases, and that the Ministry of Justice should offer the same protection to victims pursuing civil cases as those who are witnesses in criminal court cases.

The IICSA also says the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority should not dismiss applications just because a victim has a criminal record, or lives under the same roof as their abuser.

The inquiry was set up by Theresa May in July 2014 when she was home secretary. It was in response to the increasing number of adults coming forward to complain they were abused as children by celebrities, public officials and people in positions of power.

But it immediately ran into problems, with women chosen to chair the inquiry resigning because of opposition from organisations representing victims of child abuse.

Lady Elizabeth Butler Sloss resigned within a week of her appointment. Then her replacement, Dame Fiona Woolf, quit after eight weeks. Both were criticised for having close links with the political establishment, which was itself under scrutiny.

In February 2015, Dame Lowell Goddard, a High Court judge from New Zealand was appointed and she officially opened the inquiry in July of that year.

But she too resigned in August 2016 after criticism of the amount of time she was spending out of the country. She also appeared to be overwhelmed by the scale of the inquiry's remit.

A week later, Professor Alexis Jay, a child protection expert and former social worker who was already on the inquiry panel, stepped up to become chair.

Since then, dozens of hearings have been held, and evidence taken from witnesses.

A report has already been issued about the abuse of those who became child migrants - sent from Britain to other Commonwealth countries.

There has also been a report on the abuse of children in care in Rochdale, which examined how the town's former MP, Cyril Smith, had avoided prosecution for abusing young boys.

Investigations are continuing into abuse within the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, the armed forces overseas, Westminster, and councils in Nottinghamshire and Lambeth in London.

There is a separate Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry examining complaints north of the border.

People who claim to be victims of abuse are encouraged to tell their stories confidentially. More than a thousand have done so.

94% said they were abused by men, while 10% of female victims and survivors became pregnant.

A third of victims suffered depression in later life, while 28% considered suicide.

One of those who came forward said: "The person I have described was well respected and a pillar of the local establishment.

"Anyone who might have objected to his behaviour would have the daunting task of taking on someone with powerful friends and considerable influence.

Another told the panel: "The boarding school I attended was rife with sexual abuse. The prefects abused their authority over the younger boys to sexually abuse whomever took their fancy."

Professor Jay said: "We have much work still to do and evidence to hear - we will hold a further eight public hearings in the next 12 months alone, but we are making good progress."