Chair of the Child Abuse Inquiry

Professor Alexis Jay has been appointed to chair the Independent Inquiry into Child Abuse - see Inquiry Statement 11th August.

Professor Jay led the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham, an investigation into child sexual abuse in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham in South Yorkshire.  She is the author of the investigation's report, published in August 2014 - (Law and Lawyers 1st September 2014).

In September 2014 she was appointed to act as an expert adviser to an independent panel inquiry which was intended to examine how the UK's institutions have handled their duties to protect children from sexual abuse.   Following the abandonment of the initial panel inquiry in favour of a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, she was re-appointed as an adviser to the subsequent Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse chaired by Dame Lowell Goddard.

The Chair is assisted by a Panel of three members: Prof. Sir Malcolm Evans KCMG OBE; Ivor Frank; and Drusilla Sharpling CBE.  Professor Jay was a Panel Member assisting Dame Goddard.  It is not clear whether a fourth panel member will now be appointed.  Although Professor Jay is not a lawyer, the panel members have considerable legal credentials.

Law and Lawyers 5th August - Dame Lowell Goddard quits.