Scottish government needs to act faster on grooming gang inquiry, says survivor
Summary
Survivor Holly Alex says the Scottish government has been too slow to advance a public inquiry into grooming gangs, announced in February. The government says the inquiry is part of its work to protect children, while Police Scotland says an investigation into some reports made by Alex is ongoing.Key Facts
- Holly Alex said she was abused after entering care at age 14 and lived in five children's homes in Edinburgh between ages 14 and 17.
- Alex said about 25 to 50 men were involved in her abuse in flats in Edinburgh and Livingston.
- Social care records reviewed by BBC Scotland noted concerns that Alex was being groomed and described her repeatedly going missing, returning intoxicated and having unexplained money.
- The records indicate that social workers and police knew of risks Alex faced.
- The Scottish government announced a public inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in February.
- Alex said survivors are still waiting for meaningful progress and urged the government to act as quickly as it had promised.
- Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said safeguarding children was the government's priority and the planned statutory inquiry was a core part of that work.
- Alex said abuse affects survivors whose perpetrators are not Asian and warned that the term “grooming gang” can create misconceptions about the abuse.
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