Updates on the Child Protection Authority and grooming gangs inquiry

This article has been written by Nicole Ho and Amrita Hurst, with contributions made by George Riach and Julia Jones.

Background

The Government has recently launched a consultation on the creation of a new Child Protection Authority (‘CPA’) in England and Wales.

This follows recommendations made as part of the Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (‘IICSA’) in 2022, as well as Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation, to establish a new national body – the CPA – to strengthen oversight and improve coordination between organisations involved in protecting children at risk of abuse. 

The consultation was also announced in the same week that the Home Secretary announced the appointment of the Chair and panel for the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, which will investigate systemic, institutional and individual failings in historic and current practice in combatting grooming gangs. In addition, the proposed Hillsborough Bill seeks to strengthen transparency mechanisms, so that public bodies and officials who have failed victims, and who fail to participate truthfully and proactively in inquiries, are held accountable.

For further details on the Government’s broader safeguarding reform strategy, please refer to our previous articles which outline the wider recommendations from Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and the Government’s plans to tighten the legislative framework against child sexual exploitation following the IICSA recommendations.

What is being proposed for the CPA? 

While the CPA’s final remit has not yet been confirmed, the Government’s press release regarding the consultation, as well as recommendations made as part of the Report of the IICSA and Baroness Casey’s audit, propose that the CPA would operate independently, as a non-departmental public body in England and as an arms-length body in Wales, to: 

• hold organisations to account on child protection matters, including local authorities, ICBs, and the chief officer of police;
• collaborate closely with inspectorates and partners to strengthen safeguarding practice; 
• provide advice and propose recommendations to the Government in relation to child protection policy and reform; 
• monitor the implementation of recommendations made by the IICSA; and
• oversee the mandatory sharing of information between statutory safeguarding partners in cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Frontline criminal enforcement would remain the responsibility of the police, however the CPA would play a role in oversight, scrutiny and system improvement. 

The consultation on the CPA

The consultation aims to gather a range of perspectives on the CPA’s functions, powers, governance structure, and how it should interact with existing organisations.

Input is encouraged from anyone with an interest in improving child protection, such as (but not limited to) frontline practitioners, local authorities, safeguarding partners, voluntary and community sector organisations, inspectorates, regulatory bodies, training and support providers, as well as children and families with lived experience in the subject matter.

The consultation will be open until 11:59pm on 5 March 2026 and can be accessed here.

Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs 

On 9 December 2025, the draft terms of reference for the inquiry was published and Baroness Longfield was appointed to chair the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs as part of a three-person panel with Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly. 

They will examine the actions of police, councils, social services and other agencies, locally and nationally, with powers to compel witnesses to give evidence, require organisations to hand over documents and records. They have a three-year time limit. 

The Chair will consult on the draft terms of reference and will provide more information in January 2026. The final terms of reference will be agreed and are due to be published by March 2026, when the inquiry will be formally established.

Hillsborough Bill 

There is concurrent progress with the Hillsborough Law which would impose a duty on public authorities/ officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness – specifically in their dealings with inquiries and investigations. It would create a criminal offence for public authorities/officials who mislead the public. If granted Royal Assent sufficiently in advance of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs’ three-year deadline, the Bill could support the inquiry in bringing facts to light more swiftly and cost-effectively, and in mitigating the risk of incomplete reporting or concealment of crucial information.

The Bill has passed its second reading. The report stage is scheduled for 14 January 2026  and the third reading is to be confirmed.

Potential implications for organisations interacting with children and how Bevan Brittan can support

Once established, the proposed CPA is likely to increase scrutiny of safeguarding arrangements for organisations interacting with children and families across healthcare, social care, education, and policing, with closer review of policies, procedures and multi-agency collaboration. 

Bevan Brittan will continue to monitor developments relating to the proposed CPA, Hillsborough Bill, and the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs. As the Government’s child protection reform programme progresses, we can also support organisations with reviewing their safeguarding frameworks, advising on incident response and information-sharing obligations, as well as providing training on the impact of new legislative and policy reforms. 

Please get in touch with Amrita Hurst or Julia Jones if you would like to discuss further. 

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