I’m taking the Government to court over its failure to protect children – enough is enough

Maggie Oliver’s charity is taking the Government to the High Court over its failure to implement recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). Oliver argues that the case is about whether governments can be held accountable for promises made after public inquiries, and says another inquiry risks delaying practical change.

IICSA ran for seven years, heard from more than 7,000 survivors and cost taxpayers over £200 million. It made 20 recommendations, which Oliver says remain unimplemented four years later, while a new three-year grooming gangs inquiry is estimated to cost £65 million. The legal challenge focuses on safeguards including abuse data collection, protections for children in custody and care, a Cabinet-level Minister for Children, and respect for victims’ rights.