The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has confirmed Phase 8 of its work will look at residential accommodation used by the state between 1930 and 2014 to accommodate (a) young offenders under the age of 18 (and children and young persons under 18 awaiting trial) and (b) children and young persons under 18 in need of care and protection.
This includes:
• residential establishments in Scotland used as approved schools, List D schools, secure accommodation, remand homes, and assessment centres
• borstal institutions, remand institutions, detention centres and young offenders’ institutions run by the Scottish Prison Service.
Public hearings will commence in the second half of 2023. The case study will investigate the nature and extent of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse, including the use of corporal punishment, restraint and segregation. The reporting of abuse and the impact of abuse form part of SCAI’s investigations, as do staff recruitment, training, and culture. Those are also areas that will be explored during this case study.
Lady Smith, Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry said: “Many people have already come forward and our investigations are well under way. We would encourage anyone with relevant information to get in touch with the Inquiry’s witness support team as soon as possible. We are particularly keen to hear from former residents, former staff, managers and those involved in inspections.”
The Inquiry wants to hear from any person who has evidence or information about abuse between 1930 and 2014 at:
- Any approved school or former approved school
- Any List D school or former List D school
- Any place used as secure accommodation for children and young persons under 18
- Any remand homes for children and young persons under 18
- Any assessment centre for children and young persons under 18; and
- Borstal institutions, remand institutions, detention centres and young offenders’ institutions or other institutions used to accommodate children and young persons under 18 which were run by the Scottish Prison Service.
The Inquiry’s witness support team can be contacted on 0800 0929 300, or emailed at talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot
Individuals can also write to the Inquiry by post at SCAI, PO Box 24202, Edinburgh EH7 9EA.
