National review of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation – overview and scope

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Public protection partners across Scotland are to be asked to provide evidence of what steps they are taking to identify and prevent group- based child sexual abuse and exploitation, as part of the first phase of a national review.

In December 2025 the Scottish Government asked the Care Inspectorate and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), working with Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE), to conduct a national review into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Today [Monday, 9 February 2026] the chief inspectors and chief executives of the four scrutiny bodies met with the Chief Officers’ Groups across Scotland to set out the full scope of the national review. Representatives from Police Scotland were also in attendance.

To read the news release and access the scoping document visit the Care Inspectorate website.