Child Protection Authority

Today Government have launched a public consultation on the Child Protection Authority for England, a new national body with one clear purpose: to protect children. In addition to this consultation, we are also publishing new analysis and data on child sexual abuse and exploitation in response to a recommendation in Baroness Casey’s audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.

For too long, we have seen heartbreaking cases where the system has not worked as it should. Despite the dedication of thousands of professionals, repeated reviews have shown the same weaknesses: fragmented leadership; poor information sharing; and lessons that take too long to turn into action. These failures have left children exposed to harm, and families devastated. We cannot allow this to continue. Whilst we cannot shield every child from harm, it is imperative that we do not repeat past failures and that we strive to create a future where we do not allow history to repeat itself.

We have heard at first hand from those impacted by systemic failures. It is clear that there is too often a lack of expertise, accuracy and grip in the most important decisions around significant harm. There are countless cases where poor information sharing contributes to serious safeguarding failures, and learning about what does and does not work has been too slowly embedded, if at all.

The CPA will change that. It will bring national leadership and oversight, using data and intelligence to spot risks early and advise on policy at local and national level, helping to create a system that is proactive, rather than reactive.

It will support initiatives from “what works” centres and centres of expertise in spreading and embedding good practice, as well as plugging vital gaps in research and evidence.

The CPA will also make sure that recommendations lead to real change, not just words on a page. It will work closely with inspectorates, regulators, and relevant Government Departments to drive continuous improvement across the system. Accountability will be clearer, impacts will be measurable, and practice will be expert, accurate and decisive.

The CPA will absorb and build on the impressive work of the child safeguarding practice review panel. I would like to thank Sir David Holmes, former chair Dame Annie Hudson, and panel members, for their tireless work—particularly their relentless focus on sharing learning and modelling multi-agency expertise.

The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse called for a national body to address inconsistencies and drive stronger accountability where opportunities have been missed. They called for a body that has a laser focus on child protection, that can build on the strengths of the sector and that can support a system that can take swift and direct action where children are at risk of significant harm. The CPA will be that body.

The measures we are announcing today sit within a wider programme of reform. Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and Crime and Policing Bill, we are strengthening multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, introducing a mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse, and improving information sharing. Through the families first partnership programme, backed by £2.4 billion, we are rolling out family help, family group decision making and multi-agency child protection teams in every local area, and we are taking targeted action to support victims and survivors, including reforms to the disclosure and barring system and removing the three-year time limit for civil claims. We will build a system that can prevent the tragedies we have seen in the past, and one that has enduring relationships at its core.

Today, we have also published analysis of child protection data to meet recommendation 9 of Baroness Casey’s national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. This includes analysis of children who were assessed as being affected by child sexual abuse or exploitation, giving valuable insight into their demographics and outcomes, and into trends over time. It will help us to better understand practice and recording for these children.

This is another important step in building our understanding of how we need to improve.

This consultation, which will run for 12 weeks, sets out our proposals and invites views on the CPA’s scope, powers, and priorities. We will publish the Government response in summer 2026, alongside plans for legislation to establish the CPA.

This Government are unwavering in their commitment to act. Every child deserves a system that is expert, decisive and compassionate—and today’s announcements mark a bold step toward making that vision a reality.

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