The Scottish Government’s announcement of a National Review of Group-Based Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Response, chaired by Professor Alexis Jay, marks a potentially pivotal moment in safeguarding policy.

Group-based CSA represents one of the most complex and devastating forms of harm to children. It often involves organised networks, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and systemic failures in detection and intervention. Recent inquiries across the UK have exposed gaps in accountability, information-sharing, and victim support. Scotland’s proactive stance signals a commitment to learning from these lessons and improving its safeguarding framework.

The review will be carried out by the Care Inspectorate, the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Education, and Healthcare Improvement Scotland - oversight bodies which are independent of the government. 

Professor Jay’s leadership in the Rotherham inquiry demonstrated the transformative power of rigorous, independent scrutiny. This review aims to ensure Scotland’s systems for preventing and responding to group-based child sexual abuse are robust, victim-centred, and aligned with best practice.

The work of the national review will be undertaken alongside that of the independent Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, and work already underway by Police Scotland to review previous cases, to gather evidence on the extent of group-related child sexual abuse and exploitation. This evidence will inform any decision on the need for a future judge-led inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Why this review matters

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has primarily focused on historical abuse in care settings, such as residential homes, foster care, and institutions. While there has been evidence from applicants to the Inquiry of group-based CSA, the inquiry has not specifically conducted a dedicated investigation into grooming gangs or group-based child sexual exploitation. 

Key objectives of the review

The review will scrutinise:

• Current frameworks for identification and disruption of group-based CSA.
• Multi-agency coordination and information-sharing, ensuring collaboration between law enforcement, social work, education, health, and other public sector bodies.
• Victim support mechanisms, prioritising access to justice and therapeutic care.
• Legislative and policy gaps.

Legal and policy implications

The outcome of the review will provide evidence for the Scottish Ministers to determine further action necessary to prevent child sexual exploitation in Scotland. While obviously, we do not yet know the outcome, for legal professionals and those in governance, this review could potentially raise critical questions:

• Mandatory Reporting: While this could enhance accountability, it must be balanced against risks of over-reporting and resource strain.
• Information-Sharing Protocols: Current data protection laws often create uncertainty for practitioners and public authorities. Clearer statutory guidance could empower agencies to share intelligence swiftly without fear of breaching privacy laws.
• Corporate and Institutional Accountability: Organisations in education, health, and social care must review safeguarding policies, training, and escalation procedures. Failure to act on known risks could expose institutions to civil liability and reputational damage.
• Governance and Cross-Sector Collaboration: Fragmented responses allow perpetrators to exploit gaps between agencies. Strengthening multi-agency partnerships, backed by statutory frameworks and shared accountability, is essential

What comes next?

The review’s findings will shape Scotland’s child protection landscape in respect of group-based CSA. 

Scotland’s commitment to this review sends a clear message: protecting children from organised sexual abuse is a national priority. The outcome will determine the response and actions required to disrupt group-based CSA.