Grooming gang inquiry welcomed

NEWS that a Scottish public inquiry into grooming gangs will now take place has been welcomed locally. Having previously resisted the move despite fierce opposition from the Scottish Conservatives, the SNP have agreed to it. Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson has described the decision as “long overdue” – not least that the survivors of grooming gangs will finally have their harrowing stories told. He said: “The survivors have had to fight tooth and nail for the public inquiry which they hope will deliver justice, some degree of closure and ensure lessons are learned to prevent other vulnerable children being preyed upon." And he warned the inquiry must not be an “SNP whitewash”, adding: “It must be genuinely independent, properly resources and unrestricted in who it can call and what it can examine. “Above all, it must have victims at its very centre. Anything less would be another betrayal of survivors by the SNP." Questioning the original decision by the First Minister not to grant an independent inquiry, Mr Carson said: “John Swinney has had to be dragged kicking and screaming into finally granting one – headed by the very expert whose views his justice secretary Angela Constance so shamefully misrepresented.” Child sexual abuse expert Prof Alexis Jay who has already overseen a national review of group-based abuse in Scotland – will lead the inquiry. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth told MSPs that the inquiry would focus on the prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation, now and in the recent past. She said: “I consider the establishment of a public inquiry to be essential, and from discussions I know Professor Jay wants to ensure that the inquiry is carried out at pace."