Police Scotland audit into child grooming gangs across Scotland

Police Scotland is working to identify any child grooming gangs reported to the force since 2013.

Police are looking at cases involving one or more victims and two or more suspects where the victim is under the age of 18.

As part of the audit, Police Scotland is also developing an overview of the demographics of suspects and offenders to identify any “patterns, trends or concerns”.

The review comes after the launch of the National Crime Agency’s Operation Beaconport, which is examining cases where alleged grooming gang suspects had no further action taken against them in England and Wales.

Several crimes in Scotland already reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have resulted in criminal convictions.

The crimes include a wide range of sexual offences, assault, abduction, and lewd and libidinous behaviour.

The action by Police Scotland comes after a reported 45% increase in reported sexual offences over the last decade and an audit by Baroness Louise Casey into the scale, nature, and drivers of group-based child sexual exploitation in England and Wales.

Speaking at a Scottish Police Authority board meeting on Thursday, chief constable Jo Farrell condemned “vile” grooming gangs and stressed the force’s determination to bring perpetrators to justice.

“Following investigation, a number of these crimes were reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and, as described, some have resulted in criminal justice outcomes”, she explained.

“Others, for example, in relation to reports involving young people as the offender and the victim, may have been progressed through other routes, for example, the Children’s Reporter.

“Of crimes which fit the criteria mentioned and which remain unsolved, we continue to be in contact with Operation Beaconport to assist with a UK law enforcement approach and understanding and provide additional, independent ratification around further investigative opportunities.

“Should the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service request any further investigation of matters previously reported, we will undertake those enquiries.”

The chief constable said a “limited” number of group-based child sexual exploitation cases had resulted in criminal justice outcomes, leading to convictions and deportations through legacy police work.

She added: “Police Scotland will progress any opportunities for further investigation and take immediate safeguarding steps where concerns are identified.

“Police Scotland will conduct any reinvestigation in a trauma-informed way which places victims and survivors at the heart of our approach.”

Scottish Government update on grooming gangs inquiry to be set out ‘before Christmas’

The Scottish Government’s “position” on a grooming inquiry will be stated before Christmas, the First Minister has said.

John Swinney denied that anybody was putting their head in the sand, but insisted that there was “no straightforward way through the issue”.

He was once again challenged by the Scottish Conservatives to agree to establish an inquiry at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.

“This is a very complex issue to which the Government is giving very detailed consideration,” Swinney told MSPs.

Answering media questions later on the likelihood of an inquiry, Swinney added: “We’ll set a position to Parliament before the Christmas recess in a statement which will reflect on where we’ve reached in our analysis.”

The First Minister said he, along with both the justice and education secretaries, was briefed by Police Scotland and the National Childhood Sexual Exploitation group on the prevalence of grooming gang issues in Scotland on Monday.

Earlier this month, Swinney confirmed he had received a letter from Taylor, which is not her real name, who said she and her friends were plied with alcohol and drugs and sexually abused by at least ten men in Glasgow.

Taylor, who was 13 at the time, said in the letter she has been “deeply disappointed” by the First Minister and Police Scotland, accusing both of dismissing her complaints.

She called for a national inquiry.