Swinney ‘not persuaded’ of need for grooming gangs inquiry

John Swinney has said he is “not persuaded” there needs to be an inquiry into the operation of grooming gangs in Scotland.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs in June, but the First Minister has rebuffed calls from the Scottish Conservatives for a similar inquiry to be held north of the border.

The Tories have now tabled amendments to the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill – which is due before MSPs next week – in a bid to force such an investigation.

Tory leader Russell Findlay raised the issue with Mr Swinney at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, telling him: “These predatory criminals raped vulnerable girls, and the Government should want to properly examine the scandal, but have so far been resistant.”

The Conservative added that while his party wants a full public inquiry, the amendment it has put forward would “at least guarantee an investigation” if it is passed.

He went on to urge the First Minister to “fix the Bill so that it gives grooming gang victims the voice, the inquiry, and the justice that they truly deserve”.

However Mr Swinney told him: “I have to say at this stage, from my reading of the information that I have seen, I am not persuaded of the necessity of that further inquiry.”

He said Police Scotland and the Crown Office are “exploring individual cases” and working to “establish whether there is further detailed scrutiny required on the question of grooming gangs”.

Ministers will be advised on this, with Mr Swinney saying the Government will “of course consider” the findings.

With regard to grooming gangs, the First Minister made clear “the criminal justice system has taken very hard, significant action to bring people to account for utterly unacceptable behaviour”, insisting this “will remain the case”.

His said the Bill as it stands, which is due for final approval at Holyrood on Tuesday, would “put the voice of victims more centrally into the criminal justice system”.

The legislation, brought forward by the Scottish Government, will make a number of changes, including abolishing the country’s controversial not proven verdict.

Before he became First Minister, Mr Swinney was part of the Criminal Justice Committee which scrutinised the Bill – and he told MSPs as a result he had worked with Justice Secretary Angela Constance to “make sure the interest of victims are ever more central to the Bill”.

Mr Findlay however insisted changes to the Bill are needed to ensure victims are told when “secretive” plea deals are agreed in their cases.

“Crime victims will continue to be badly let down by this Bill, which could have done so much more,” Mr Findlay said.

“This Bill could give victims real transparency over plea deals, it could give victims much greater involvement in the parole process, it could put a spotlight on the grooming gangs scandal.

“It could do so much more – but it doesn’t.

“It won’t meaningfully change the justice system. It is a let-down for victims.

“We could back a Bill that makes a real difference, but as it stands this is a victims law in name only.”

Mr Swinney however said: “I do not accept the characterisation of the Bill Mr Findlay has put to me.”