Deeds not words needed to tackle historical child abuse
A bid to call a public inquiry with full statutory powers into historical child abuse in Oldham has failed for a second time. Councillors in Oldham have been pushing hard for a “more powerful” statutory probe which would mean witness could be compelled to give evidence. This call was supported by survivors because many had felt the review in 2022, which was conducted locally, was ‘too limited’ and had not given many of the survivors an opportunity for their voices to be heard.
However, the government has reiterated its support for the council to run its own, local inquiry. This inquiry will be run by Tom Crowther KC, the barrister who led the inquiry into sexual abuse in Telford.
Crucially, for the inquiry to be a success, it needs to bring about change, show lessons have been learnt and recommend steps to ensure accountability for those who failed victims and survivors. One of the big issues is recommendations are given – but the change is alarmingly slow to materialise. For so many survivors, apology and acknowledgement of the abuse they suffered is crucial for their healing. This is why we push for apologies in our cases – it can make all the difference for a survivor, and it also helps to demonstrate that lessons have been learnt, and instances of abuse are hopefully much less likely to occur in the future.
What’s vital for survivors in Oldham and across the country more widely is that we start to see positive change – and quickly. We have seen so many inquiries in recent years and subsequent action can be incredibly slow to materialise.
For example, in our Manifesto, released ahead of the General Election last year, we campaigned for the introduction of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse as we recognised that in 2022 – already seven years after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse began – it was recommended people in positions of trust should be compelled by law to report child sexual abuse. The government consulted again at the end of 2023 on the details of this policy, to which we responded. Thankfully this has now been actioned – earlier this year, the government announced it would introduce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in England through the Crime and Policing Bill, although the process has already taken over 10 years and we’re yet to see the legislation.
Likewise, we campaigned for a reform of the law related to apologies in civil proceedings, arguing the law should be updated to ensure survivors of abuse are more likely to receive an apology. In April 2024, the Ministry of Justice launched a consultation on this issue and almost a year later, it was announced laws would also be refined to encourage employers to apologise for the actions of current or former employees. These reforms are expected to be part of bills which will be brought before Parliament in the next year. We’re getting there, but the wheels are moving very slowly which is deeply frustrating,
Whether an inquiry is held at a local or national level, what is essential is that survivors are put at the heart of the process and real, actionable change is seen, and quickly – as Pankhurst said: deeds, not words.
