Scottish inquiry into grooming gangs to begin next week, chaired by Professor Alexis Jay
The statutory inquiry will examine group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland from 1996 to this month, including any failures by the state and any deliberate concealment.
The debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament, where Education Secretary Màiri McAllan announced the inquiry. · Photograph: S. Perquin (CC BY-SA 4.0)
A statutory inquiry into the scale of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland over the past 30 years will begin next week.
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan announced on Thursday that the inquiry will start next Wednesday. It will be chaired by Professor Alexis Jay.
What the inquiry will examine
Ms McAllan said the investigation will examine the scale, extent and prevalence of grooming gangs based in Scotland and "ensure it cannot happen again".
Professor Jay will investigate failures by the state and other bodies, including any deliberate concealment or failure to disclose evidence.
The inquiry will also examine the characteristics of perpetrators and identify changes needed to improve safeguarding, policy and legislation.
Its remit covers the period from January 1, 1996, to November 11 this year.
Working alongside other investigations
The inquiry will run alongside the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and will draw on evidence from the National Review into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as from Police Scotland.
The Scottish Government said the inquiry would avoid unnecessarily repeating matters already examined by other investigations.
"Ensure it cannot happen again"
Ms McAllan told Holyrood: "This inquiry will undertake a thorough examination of Scotland's response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation."
"Its purpose is not only to understand what has happened, but to ensure it cannot happen again. To ensure accountability is strengthened, and that we do everything possible to better protect children."
An experienced chair
Professor Jay is a former chief social work adviser to the Scottish Government. She led the 2014 independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and later chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales.
Support
Anyone affected by the issues raised in this story can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, or Childline on 0800 1111. Adults who were abused as children can also contact Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline on 08088 01 03 02.