Renewed call for Scottish grooming gangs inquiry as government continues to refuse

Professor Alexis Jay – who led the landmark investigations into abuse in Rotherham and chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales – said Scotland lacks a clear picture of how children are being targeted, and that a wide-ranging review could quickly lead to the case for a full public inquiry.

Her intervention significantly increases pressure on the Scottish government, which has repeatedly resisted calls for an independent investigation.

First Minister John Swinney said last week that ministers would outline their position by the end of the year, amid growing political and public criticism, but the SNP previously voted down proposals for an inquiry in September.

Professor Jay, who lives in the west of Scotland and is a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde, said Scotland now needs a comprehensive, multi-agency review involving social work, police, the NHS and schools.

The Scottish government has argued that an inquiry focused on organised groups of men abusing children through coercion and manipulation is unnecessary, with Mr Swinney telling MSPs earlier this year that he was not “persuaded of the necessity”.

Last month, a woman referred to as ‘Taylor’ wrote an open letter to Mr Swinney describing how, at 13, she and a friend were driven by a group of Pakistani men to flats in Glasgow where they were given alcohol and drugs before being sexually abused.

In October, five members of a Romanian trafficking and grooming gang were jailed for raping and sexually abusing 10 women – some aged only 16 – in flats across Dundee.

Professor Jay stressed that grooming gangs form only one part of the broader exploitation landscape. A growing proportion, she said, occurs online, where abusers worldwide can pay small sums to watch or direct child sexual abuse in real time.

She said: “My point is we do not have a clear or reliable picture of what the present situation is in Scotland, therefore I think it is important that should be established.”

She added: “My impression of having looked at a range of materials is at this point we do not know enough of the scale of child exploitation in Scotland.”

A Scottish government spokesman said: “The Scottish government’s absolute priority is protecting children from harm and tackling sexual abuse and exploitation in all of its forms.

“The current work of the expert National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group is considering previous inquiries, evidence and practices across social work, education, police and healthcare to prioritise and agree further actions and recommendations for national improvement. Police Scotland is also reviewing recent relevant investigations.

“Their collective work will ensure informed evidence-based decisions are taken on the need for further independent inquiries or reviews.”