UNITED KINGDOM
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
15 January
Following the death of Lord Janner and the end of any prosecution against him, the Inquiry will resume its investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse made against him, as announced in April 2015.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is a statutory inquiry set up to examine questions of institutional responsibility for failing to protect children from sexual abuse. It cannot reach findings of criminal liability against named individuals and it is not bound by the same criminal standard of proof as in a criminal trial.
The public hearings which will now take place in the Janner case are not therefore the same as a trial of the facts in a criminal court. They will be focused on different issues, subject to a different procedure and determined according to different standards of proof.
The first step for the Inquiry is to examine the factual basis for the allegations against Lord Janner. The Inquiry will seek evidence and submissions from all relevant parties, and will make findings of fact where appropriate.
If allegations are found to be true, the Inquiry will then consider the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from abuse and make recommendations for the future. Institutions falling within the remit of the investigation will include Leicestershire County Council, a number of care homes, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Labour Party.
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