Government 'abused its power' in failure to tackle child sexual abuse across Greater Manchester

The Government has "abused its power" in its failure to implement recommendations to tackle child sexual abuse that came from a seven-year inquiry, the High Court has heard. The Maggie Oliver Foundation is taking legal action against the Home Office over its alleged failure to adopt all of the 20 major reforms suggested after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The inquiry, which concluded in 2022 and cost roughly £200 million, was launched to examine how public and private institutions failed to protect children from sexual abuse.

The High Court hearing was attended by Maggie Oliver, who set up her foundation after leaving Greater Manchester Police (GMP), where she was a whistleblower about the force's inaction over grooming gangs. The High Court hearing was attended by Maggie Oliver, who set up her foundation after leaving Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Credit: ITV News Ms Oliver said: "These are children's lives that they are messing about with. "They should hang their heads in shame actually that we have to go to these lengths, a small charity like mine, to bring a case like this should never have been necessary.

"But it matters, it really matters". In written submissions, lawyers for the charity, which represents survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, told the court that only seven of the inquiry's recommendations have been implemented to date. Stephanie Harrison KC, for the foundation, described this as a "betrayal" to survivors who informed. She said that the inquiry represented a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the scourge of endemic child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation".

Ms Harrison told the High Court in London on November 10 that the problem is often spoken about as a "historical issue" and not one that is happening at "near-industrial levels" today. An estimated 500,000 children are sexually abused every year in the family home, in institutions, in communities, and online. Credit: ITV News An estimated 500,000 children are sexually abused every year in the family home, in institutions, in communities, and online.

She said: "It is not historical… and it has devastating impacts on lives". The barrister referred to "repeated assurances" from the Government, including the 2025 Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Progress Update and a parliamentary statement from the prime minister in the same year, that the recommendations of the inquiry would be implemented in full. Ms Harrison said in written submission: "The defendant cannot lawfully and/or fairly resile from those promises.

"In doing so it has abused its power and betrayed those, like the claimant and the victims and survivors it assists who put their faith in IICSA and the public commitments of the Government to act on its findings and recommendations". Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse Credit: ITV News Jack Anderson, for the Home Office, told the court in written submissions that material cited by the claimant to support its argument of "legitimate expectation" is "impermissible' as it would violate parliamentary privilege.

Parliamentary privilege is an immunity granted to politicians which allows them to speak freely in Parliament without fear of legal action or prosecution. Mr Anderson also denied that the statements cited by the charity created an expectation that all of the inquiry's recommendations would be enacted. He said: "Even if there were any legitimate expectation, any departure was not unlawful. "They are no more than recommendations and do not carry any legal force.

"The court cannot compel the executive to introduce a Bill in Parliament or compel Parliament to legislate". Mr Anderson said that the IICSA's recommendations "are not themselves clear, precise and unambiguous" and that they lack specificity "that would be required to create a substantive legitimate expectation that particular action will be taken". The hearing is due to conclude on November 11 with a decision expected in writing at a later date.

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