The Inquiry will hold the opening phases of its National Accountability Hearings in London during the weeks of 14 December 2026 and 11 January 2027, with further hearings in March and April 2027.
These hearings will examine why lessons identified through previous inquiries, reviews, inspections and investigations did not always result in sustained institutional and operational change, and will consider responsibility for implementing, monitoring and maintaining improvements.
Victims and survivors will be at the centre of the Inquiry’s approach. The hearings will consider their experiences alongside the evidence of those who led earlier inquiries and reviews, and the institutions responsible for protecting children and responding to child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.
Registration for the National Accountability Hearings and further information will be available shortly.
Hearing programme
Phase 1: Victims and survivors
The first phase will focus on the experiences and perspectives of victims and survivors. It will explore where victims and survivors consider that systems, services and institutions have failed them, including whether responses to previous findings and recommendations have produced meaningful change.
The Inquiry expects to hear evidence about support, advocacy and access to services, and about the barriers victims and survivors have faced in being heard, protected and supported.
This phase will help establish the questions that institutions must answer in the later phases of the hearings.
Phase 2: Previous findings
The second phase will examine the findings and recommendations of previous national and local inquiries, reviews, inspections and investigations. The Inquiry expects to hear from people who led relevant work, and to consider what those exercises found, what action they recommended and where they identified responsibility for change.
This phase will consider recurring findings across earlier reports, whether recommendations were clear and capable of implementation, and the arrangements that were proposed for oversight, monitoring and accountability.
Phase 3: Institutions
The third phase will examine the response of the institutions responsible for preventing and responding to child sexual exploitation by groups. It will consider what action was taken following earlier findings and recommendations, who was responsible for delivery, what progress has been made, how progress is monitored, and why implementation may be delayed, fragmented, incomplete or allowed to drift.
The Inquiry will also consider current standards of practice and the governance and accountability arrangements intended to secure and sustain change.
Organisations and witnesses
We expect to hear from a range of organisations, including:
- victim and survivor support and advocacy organisations;
- central and local government;
- policing, prosecution and the wider criminal justice system;
- children’s services, education, health and safeguarding;
- voluntary, charitable and faith organisations.
Next steps after the hearings
Following the opening National Accountability Hearings, the Inquiry will produce its first report and recommendations. These early recommendations will be informed by the evidence heard across the three phases and will focus on the changes needed to strengthen implementation, oversight and accountability.
The Inquiry will monitor relevant developments as its wider work continues. Evidence from the national hearings will also inform subsequent stages of the Inquiry, including its local investigations, while evidence gathered through those investigations will help test and develop the Inquiry’s understanding of recurring national and institutional issues.
The Inquiry intends to hold a second stage to the Hearings towards the end of the Inquiry. This will revisit relevant national and local institutions in light of the evidence gathered across the Inquiry, consider progress and continuing areas of concern, and contribute to the Inquiry’s final recommendations.