Public Inquiry

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

Status: Ongoing Chair: Lady Anne Smith Established: May 2015 Commissioned by: Scottish Government

Independent public inquiry into the abuse of children in residential care in Scotland, covering all forms of abuse within living memory. Chaired by Lady Anne Smith. Established following a 13-year campaign by survivors, originating with Petition PE535 presented to the …

Reports & milestones

Reports

20 Aug 2025 0 tracked recs Case Study 9 Volume 6: Keil School, Dumbarton · PDF

Timeline

01 Oct 2015 Inquiry Establish… Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry formally established under Inquiries Act 2005. · Source
17 Dec 2015 Inquiry Announced Scottish Government announced a public inquiry into historical child abuse in care.
17 Dec 2015 Chair Appointed Lady Smith appointed as Chair of the Inquiry.
31 May 2017 First Public Hear… First phase of public hearings began.
01 Sep 2023 Phase 8 Begins Phase 8 examining residential accommodation for young offenders began September 2023.
31 Jan 2025 Phase 8 Concluded Phase 8 concluded after over 150 days of oral hearings covering 454 applicants.
01 Sep 2025 Phase 9: Donaldso… Phase 9 hearings examining Donaldson's School for the Deaf held September-October 2025. · Source
08 Dec 2025 Phase 10 Begins Phase 10 examining Local Authority residential care begins December 2025.