FOI/202600520941 · FOI · withheld
Public inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation: FOI release
Information requested
1. Any briefing documents, submissions, or policy advice prepared by Scottish Government officials for Ministers on the question of whether to establish a public inquiry or statutory review into groupbased CSAE in Scotland, between 1st January 2025 and 25th February 2026; and any correspondence between Ministers and Police Scotland, the Care Inspectorate, HMICS, or the CSAE Strategic Group on the same question during the same period.
2. Any briefings, analytical notes, or submissions prepared for Ministers by Scottish Government officials or Police Scotland specifically addressing the prevalence or scale of group-based CSAE in Scotland, since 1st January 2023.
3. Any internal assessment of the applicability of Baroness Casey's National Audit recommendations to Scotland, including any correspondence with the UK Government on this question, since the audit's publication in June 2025.
4. Any guidance issued to local authorities on group-based CSAE, since 1st January 2022.
Response
Part 1 of your request
Some of the information you have requested is available on the Scottish Parliament website.
PE2190/A: Hold an inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland
A copy of some of the information you requested is enclosed in our response. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) s.29(1)(a) (policy formulation), s. 30(b) (free and frank provision of advice or views), and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information.
Sections 29(1)(a) and 30(b) are subject to the public interest test. In considering all the circumstances of this case, we have assessed whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs that in applying the exemption. On balance, we have concluded that the public interest favours maintaining the exemptions.
Part 2 of your request
On your second request, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 29(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of FOISA applies to that information.
This exemption is subject to the public interest test. In considering all the circumstances of this case, we have assessed whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs that in applying the exemption. On balance, we have concluded that the public interest favours maintaining the exemption.
Part 3 of your request
Some of the information you have requested is available online on the Scottish Government and Scottish Police Authority websites.
National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group minutes: Extraordinary Meeting: July 2025 - gov.scot UKG audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse: First Minister’s response - gov.scot Police Scotland update: Group based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
A copy of some of the information you requested is enclosed in our response. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) s.29(1)(a) (policy formulation), s. 30(b) (free and frank provision of advice or views), and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information.
Sections 29(1)(a) and 30(b) are subject to the public interest test. In considering all the circumstances of this case, we have assessed whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs that in applying the exemption. On balance, we have concluded that the public interest favours maintaining the exemptions.
Part 4 of your request
The answer to your question is that there hasn’t been any specific guidance issued to local authorities on group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation since 1st January 2022.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) s.29(1)(a) (policy formulation), s. 30(b) (free and frank provision of advice or views), and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. In considering all the circumstances of this case, we have assessed whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs that in applying the exemption. On balance, we have concluded that the public interest favours maintaining the exemptions. Part 2 of your request On your second request, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 29(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of FOISA applies to that information.