Senior officers have warned that the probe – due to begin within the next month – will place a “significant demand” on the crisis-hit force.

The inquiry, which will be chaired by Susan O’Brien QC, will investigate historic abuse cases involving children in care, including both church and state-run children’s homes, boarding schools, foster care and hospitals.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone told a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority that there would be an impact on resources.

“It’s an inquiry that Police Scotland totally welcomes,” he said.

“It’s going to give victims of sexual abuse in the past a forum in which to raise their concerns but, inevitably, there will be an impact for us. There are demands of investigating historic crime as opposed to current crime, and how you balance current demand against historic demand is one which we are actively engaged with.”

The meeting in Stirling heard that 24 per cent of sexual crimes in the first quarter of this year, from April to June, were classed as historic, based on alleged events over a year ago.

As part of the UK-wide Operation Hydrant, Police Scotland is looking into 37 famous names, including four from the world of broadcasting and film, as part of investigations into child abuse going back 70 years.

Chief Constable Sir Stephen House, who last week revealed his decision to quit early , said: “I would like to take this opportunity to publicly stress once again that it doesn’t matter to Police Scotland when the crime took place – we will investigate it.”

The public inquiry is set to begin on or before October 1.

lScottish Labour are to carry out their own review of Police Scotland.

The party’s Scottish justice spokesman, Graeme Pearson, will reveal details of his investigation today.

Mr Pearson, a former assistant chief constable of Strathclyde Police, said: “We supported the introduction of the single police force back in 2013, but something has gone badly wrong with its implementation. Policing in Scotland needs a shake-up.”