The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs has announced the next phase of its work, confirming local investigations in Wales and Birmingham. These investigations will examine what happened, why children were not identified and protected, how institutions responded and what must change to prevent the same failures from being repeated.

Switalskis’ are appealing for witnesses following the recent conviction of Deborah Franklin who was a teacher at Radlett Preparatory School.

Changes to automatic release arrangements come into effect from 1 October 2026. What do the new rules mean for survivors of child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, stalking and sexual violence?

The public conversation around grooming gangs often centres on places such as Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford and Telford. However, there is a real risk that the experiences of survivors elsewhere become lost in the background. There must be a genuine commitment to examining what happened in Welsh communities, understanding whether opportunities to protect children were missed and ensuring that survivors from Wales have a meaningful voice throughout the process.

On 21st September 2026, the Government announced that specialist courts focused on handling rape and sexual offence cases will be introduced across England and Wales over the next two years.

Recent disclosures about abuse in boarding schools highlight an issue that remains highly relevant to survivors of childhood abuse: who can you sue?

Safeguarding is about more than responding to individual allegations. For the Church of England, it is about creating a culture in which concerns can be raised, individuals are listened to, and appropriate action is taken promptly and transparently.

Switalskis has strengthened its newly established Grimsby office with the appointment of Laura Ornsby, a solicitor specialising in child care and domestic abuse law.