National review of responses to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation to be undertaken in Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced (3 December) that a national review of responses to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation is to be undertaken in Scotland in 2026.

Scottish Ministers have directed His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate to conduct an independent review which will then report its findings to the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group.

From January 2026, the Group will be chaired by Professor Alexis Jay CBE, who will provide expert advice to Ministers on the findings of the national review, and oversee the Group’s ongoing work on responding to child sexual abuse and exploitation. The Group was established in 2024 to increase co-ordination and capability across the public and voluntary sector to address the risks and harms of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in Scotland by scrutinising existing and emerging evidence and practice to inform, prioritise and agree actions.

This national review will operate alongside the ongoing work of the independent Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, and the work already underway by Police Scotland to review previous cases, to gather evidence on the extent of group-related child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The review is intended to help ensure there is independent scrutiny of the understanding and response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation that organisations and specific areas have. This understanding and response will be evaluated by the Inspectorates, in a process which will also engage local authority Chief Officers.

Read the Scottish Government announcement