SNP REFUSES TO LAUNCH INQUIRY INTO 'ONE OF BIGGEST SCANDALS EVER'

Urgent plea for voices of Scots victims of grooming gangs to be heard

- By David Walker and Ben Borland

THE Scottish Government is refusing to hold a grooming gang inquiry, despite child sex rings being reported north of the Border.

The UK Government announced a U-turn on Monday, confirming a major probe into sex gangs, predominantly made up of British Pakistani men, following a damning report. Calls have been made by the Scottish Tories for the Home Secretary to extend the inquiry into Scotland, like the Covid Inquiry.

Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie said: "It's imperative voices of the victims are heard." The party highlighted that grooming gangs have been exposed in the likes of Dundee and Glasgow.

Scotland does have a Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry ongoing looking at historic crimes in places such as schools and children's homes.

This has not been extended to look at the likes of the Celtic Boys Club or at youth football despite repeated requests.

A number of grooming gangs have been identified in Glasgow and the surrounding area over the past two decades, mainly involving predominately Asian men.

Nearly 200 girls - most of them in care, and the youngest aged just 10 - were identified as a result of three police investigations in Glasgow, along with more than 50 abusers.

The police operations named Dash, Cotswold and Cerrar were revealed by the Scottish Express, with only a handful of prosecutions and no gangs on trial.