‘Watershed moment’ as three-year time limit on child rape claims scrapped in England and Wales

Under new reforms, child sexual abuse cases will proceed unless the defendant proves that a fair hearing cannot take place. Photograph: William Barton/Alamy

Hundreds of child rape survivors, including those targeted by grooming gangs, are expected to pursue their abusers in the courts after ministers scrapped a three-year time limit on compensation claims.

Under reforms hailed by campaigners as a “watershed moment”, ministers said civil claims will no longer have to be brought within three years of a child abuse survivor’s 18th birthday.