WORK OF HISTORICAL CHILD ABUSE INQUIRY BEGINS

Historical Child Abuse Inquiry
October 3, 2015

https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/_/documents/Press-Release-for-launch-1-October-2015.pdf

An independent inquiry into the historical abuse of children in care in Scotland has formally started work today (Thursday 1 October).

The Historical Child Abuse Inquiry will seek to raise public awareness of the abuse of children in care, provide an opportunity for public acknowledgement of their suffering and serve as a forum or validation of their experience.

The Inquiry - which will report to Scottish Ministers within four years (or such other period as Ministers may provide) - will cover the period within living memory of any person who suffered such abuse, up until such date as the Chair may determine, but no later than 17 December 2014.

A dedicated Inquiry website - www.childabuseinquiry.scot – has also gone live today to keep the public updated on the work of the Inquiry.

Inquiry Chair Susan O’Brien QC today undertook to give full details of the steps that the Inquiry will take, once the Inquiry panel members have been appointed by the Scottish Government.

During the start-up period, those who believe that they may have information to share are being asked to make initial contact with the Inquiry either by email, information@childabuseinquiry.scot or post, Historical Child Abuse Inquiry, PO Box 24085, Edinburgh, EH7 9EA. They should only send in their names and addresses at this stage, with one sentence about how they can help. As the inquiry operations and office are established, a phone number will also be introduced.