Child sexual abuse and exploitation: Jay Inquiry
Overview
The Jay Inquiry is a statutory public inquiry set up on 11 November 2026, under the Inquiries Act 2005, to look into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland. It will examine how institutions responded to it and make recommendations to better protect children now and in future.
The inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers. This means its Chair, Professor Alexis Jay, decides how the inquiry is run, in line with its remit and terms of reference.
When the inquiry was announced in early 2026, the Cabinet Secretary for Education said “survivors of abuse want to see accountability and improvement delivered as quickly as possible, and that sense of urgency is shared by the Scottish Government. We are determined to act decisively to protect children from the horrendous harm of child sexual abuse and exploitation.”
The terms of reference were set out on 5 November 2026 and come into effect from this date.
The inquiry continues to set out the procedural framework for public inquiries which was established by Scottish Ministers under the Inquiries Act 2005 and The Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007. These rules govern evidence, hearings, core participants, document handling, and awarding expenses.
Further information on protocols will be published in due course. In the interim, should you hold information relevant to the inquiry terms of reference, you can email us at public@jayinquiry.scot.
Members
- Professor Alexis Jay, Independent Chair to the Jay Inquiry
- David Anderson, Secretary to the Jay Inquiry
- Gill Surfleet, Solicitor to the Jay Inquiry