Scottish Government to Initiate Grooming Gangs Inquiry
The Scottish government is anticipated to order a public inquiry into grooming gangs. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth is set to make a statement at Holyrood regarding measures to protect children from harm.
Professor Alexis Jay, an expert on grooming gangs, has been conducting a national review of evidence in Scotland over recent months to guide the government's decision-making process. It is understood that sufficient information has emerged to justify commissioning a further inquiry.
Jay's review, announced in December, was intended to inform a future decision on whether a judge-led public inquiry should be established. At the time, the announcement was welcomed by Scottish Labour, while Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay stated it did not go
"far enough"and called for a full public inquiry.
Previously, ministers indicated that more evidence was required before proceeding, but that threshold now appears to have been met.
Related Developments in England and Wales
In February of the previous year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commissioned Dame Louise Casey to assess the scale, nature, and drivers of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse at both national and local levels.
In her review, Dame Louise recommended establishing a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in England and Wales. Sir Keir accepted this recommendation, stating it was
"the right thing to do"based on her findings.
The inquiry, named the Independent Commission on Grooming Gangs, will possess legal powers to direct targeted investigations in local areas and summon witnesses to provide evidence.
The UK government announced that a panel of abuse survivors would play a central role in the inquiry. However, four members resigned in October in protest over the government's handling of the process to date.
