Scotland's public inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation will commence on Wednesday, the Scottish government has confirmed. Led by child sexual abuse expert Prof Alexis Jay, the investigation will examine patterns of organised abuse spanning from 1996 to the present day. According to BBC News, Education Secretary Mairi McAllan announced the launch in the Scottish Parliament, emphasising that the inquiry would possess the "strongest possible powers" to investigate the full scope of the issue.
The announcement follows criticism from survivors who have accused the government of moving too slowly. Holly Alex, 36, a survivor of abuse by groups of men in Edinburgh and Livingston while in care as a teenager, expressed frustration at the pace of progress.
If you say you'll do something at pace, do it at pace. Don't just pay lip service to it. Some people's lives depend on the truth coming out.Social care records indicate that staff had documented concerns about her being groomed by adult men, and that social workers and police were aware of the risks she faced.
Before the new inquiry can begin hearing evidence, its terms of reference must be formally agreed. McAllan outlined the inquiry's scope, stating it would examine the extent and prevalence of group-based child abuse, its impact on survivors, the characteristics of perpetrators, and institutional failings including any deliberate concealment. She clarified that the inquiry would not determine civil or criminal liability but would instead provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen child protection and prevent future failures.
How will the Scottish inquiry relate to the UK-wide investigation?
The Scottish and UK inquiries will complement rather than duplicate each other's work. The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs in England and Wales, announced by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in June 2025, began work in April 2026. That inquiry encountered difficulties before launching when abuse survivors called for former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips to resign over claims the government was attempting to broaden its scope to encompass other forms of child abuse. The Scottish inquiry will consider action to improve responses to child abuse while investigations are ongoing, rather than waiting for final recommendations.
What does the national review reveal about Scotland's data gaps?
A national review published in September found that Scotland lacks reliable data to establish the scale of group-based child sexual abuse, with inconsistent data collection and no agreed definition identified as significant problems. The review, also overseen by Jay, highlighted the absence of a dependable national picture of grooming gang offending in Scotland. This gap in understanding has underscored the need for a comprehensive inquiry to establish the true extent of the problem.
What is Prof Alexis Jay's background in investigating abuse?
Jay brings substantial experience to the role. In 2014, she led an independent investigation into child sexual abuse in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which identified that at least 1,400 children had been sexually exploited between 1997 and 2013. That inquiry prompted a series of investigations into how South Yorkshire Police had responded to complaints of child sexual abuse. Jay stated that the Scottish inquiry would focus on making practical recommendations to improve policy, practice and, where necessary, legislation to better protect children in Scotland.
The Scottish government announced its intention to establish a public inquiry and a Scottish Truth Project on 25 February 2026, eight months after the UK-wide inquiry was announced. The Truth Project is designed to draw on survivor experiences, the national review findings, and Police Scotland's case review. Holly Alex has been invited to participate in the Truth Project pilot, which is running alongside the public inquiry.
What have opposition parties said about the inquiry?
Scottish Labour's Katherine Sangster pledged her party's full support but questioned why nine months had elapsed since the inquiry was first announced before reaching this launch point. Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Duncan Dunlop expressed concern that the inquiry would produce recommendations that would not translate into meaningful change in practice. Scottish Conservative Meghan Gallacher said she was "baffled by the lack of urgency" and noted that survivors, some of whom had been waiting decades, had also criticised the timeframe. She asked McAllan how confident she was that the inquiry would "finally deliver the answers and justice" and when survivors would see results.
McAllan responded that she was confident the inquiry would deliver answers, citing Jay's "unrivalled experience" as a source of that confidence. She reiterated that the inquiry would possess the strongest possible powers to investigate extent and prevalence, impact on victims and survivors, perpetrator characteristics, and institutional failures.
What other abuse inquiries are underway in the UK?
The broader landscape of child abuse investigations extends beyond grooming gangs. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry plans to focus on exploitation of children in care during Phase 11 hearings in early 2027, with those hearings scheduled to begin on 8 December 2026. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry can investigate grooming and exploitation of children who were in care, including abuse that occurred outside their placement, with its remit covering allegations before the end of December 2014. In England and Wales, the national independent inquiry into grooming gangs will first investigate Oldham, Bradford, Keighley, and London, with a focus on institutional responses and past review areas.
What happens next?
Ministers are expected to provide an update to the Scottish Parliament on the inquiry on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The formal agreement of the inquiry's terms of reference remains a necessary step before evidence-gathering can commence. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry's Phase 11 hearings, which will focus on protecting children in care from abuse, are scheduled to begin on 8 December 2026.
