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The High Court has heard claims that the government has “effectively allowed the abuse” of thousands of children due to its failure to fully adopt recommendations following a major inquiry into child sexual exploitation. These allegations were presented by the Maggie Oliver Foundation, which is pursuing legal action against the Home Office over its purported neglect in implementing key reforms proposed by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
The foundation must demonstrate that its case is “arguable” to proceed further in court. According to the Home Office, ministers are not legally required to enforce the IICSA’s recommendations. The ongoing hearing, overseen by Mr Justice Kimblin, is expected to conclude shortly. This extensive inquiry, which spanned seven years and incurred costs of £200 million, published its findings in 2022. It was established to investigate the failure of various institutions, both public and private, to protect children from sexual abuse.
Maggie Oliver founded her charity after resigning from Greater Manchester Police, where she had previously blown the whistle on the force’s inadequate response to grooming gangs. During the hearing, Oliver’s representative, Christopher Jacobs, informed the court that as of 8 July 2025, 17 out of the 20 major recommendations from IICSA remained unimplemented. The foundation’s claim focuses specifically on three critical areas: proper documentation of abusers’ age, ethnicity, religion, and occupation; the prohibition of painful restraints on children in custody; and improved access to justice for children in care.
Jacobs highlighted the severity of the issue, noting that around 500,000 children suffer sexual abuse annually. He accused the government of taking an “inconsistent and arbitrary approach” to the inquiry’s recommendations, thereby continuing the cycle of abuse. He further argued in written submissions that the government’s repeated denials and delays in action have likely contributed to thousands of avoidable cases of child sexual exploitation over the past several years. In response, Home Office barrister Jack Anderson labeled the claim “not arguable,” emphasizing that while the report’s recommendations hold importance, they do not constitute binding obligations for the government. Anderson also pointed out ongoing efforts by government officials to address some recommendations, stressing that policy development requires time to be executed correctly
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