On September 22, 2025, the Scottish Parliament became the stage for a heated debate over how best to tackle child sexual exploitation, as Conservative MSPs clashed with their SNP and Green counterparts over a proposed amendment to the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill. The amendment, put forward by Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr, would have triggered a formal investigation into child exploitation and grooming gangs in Scotland. Its rejection by the ruling parties has sparked fierce criticism from the opposition, while the government insists it is already acting decisively to protect vulnerable children.
Murdo Fraser, a Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, did not mince his words following the vote. "It is outrageous that SNP and Green MSPs could not bring themselves to back a grooming gangs inquiry in Scotland," he declared, as reported by The Herald. Fraser argued that the amendment was a "sensible" step, designed to ensure a full investigation into child exploitation and abuse—specifically the activities of grooming gangs. He went so far as to call the decision a "betrayal of victims," accusing the government of refusing to learn from past failings that could help prevent future abuse. He also referenced Baroness Casey, whose review in England recommended a grooming gangs inquiry, warning that excluding Scotland from similar scrutiny would be a "missed opportunity."
Fraser’s remarks echoed a broader concern that Scotland risks repeating the mistakes seen south of the border, where high-profile cases of grooming gangs in towns like Rotherham and Rochdale shocked the nation and led to years of soul-searching and policy change. "Scottish victims deserve to have their voices heard through an inquiry, and I am appalled that SNP and Green MSPs could not join Scottish Conservative MSPs in backing this amendment," Fraser insisted.
However, the narrative from the government benches was markedly different. Shirley-Anne Somerville, the MSP for Dunfermline, countered that the Conservatives’ claims were "simply not true." She explained, "During a debate on the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill—legislation introduced by the Scottish Government to deliver transformational change in Scotland’s justice system—the Conservatives lodged an amendment that would have asked the new Victims Commissioner to carry out research into child abuse. This was categorically not an inquiry into grooming gangs." Somerville described the amendment as a "cynical political ploy, not a serious proposal for protecting children." She expressed disappointment that such a serious issue was being politicized, adding, "The Scottish Government treats child protection as an absolute priority."
The government’s approach, Somerville explained, is rooted in expert-led strategy rather than new inquiries. In 2024, the Scottish Government established the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group, a panel of experts including Professor Alexis Jay—who chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales. According to Somerville, Professor Jay has advised that the best approach is to strengthen existing protections rather than launch new investigations. The government also pointed to the proactive stance of Police Scotland, which, as a single national police force, is reviewing both current and historical cases and is able to share intelligence quickly and consistently, addressing a key challenge highlighted in Baroness Casey’s review in England. Police Scotland has confirmed that there are currently no investigations into offences of the kind seen in England, but emphasized that efforts are ongoing to ensure there is no complacency.
"The bottom line is the Scottish Government is already acting decisively to protect children, with expert-led work under way and law enforcement fully engaged. Suggestions that anyone voted 'against an inquiry into grooming gangs' are deliberately misleading and a total misrepresentation of events," Somerville stated. The debate, then, is not about whether child protection is a priority, but about the most effective means to achieve it—and whether the political process is being used for genuine reform or for partisan advantage.
While Scotland debates the best approach to preventing and investigating child sexual exploitation, the tragic consequences of past failures are still being felt elsewhere in the UK. The inquest into the death of Charlotte Tetley, a 33-year-old woman who was groomed and sexually abused in Rochdale, concluded earlier this month at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington. Her story, reported by The Guardian, is a stark reminder of the enduring impact of abuse and the importance of robust support systems for survivors.
Ms. Tetley had a complex mental health history, including diagnoses of emotionally unstable personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance misuse. She had moved from Rochdale to Macclesfield in July 2023 after her abuser returned to the area, seeking support from the local community mental health team. On June 18, 2024, she attended Macclesfield Hospital’s accident and emergency department, expressing suicidal thoughts and concerns for her safety. However, just six days later, she was removed from the inpatient bed list, despite her own belief that remaining as an inpatient was her only path to recovery. She was discharged on June 26, 2024, before a mental health specialist could review her case.
Despite continued engagement with community mental health and drug services, Ms. Tetley’s situation remained precarious. On September 18, 2024, she was removed from railway tracks by British Transport Police and taken to hospital, but left before the mental health liaison team could review her. On the morning of her death, September 24, 2024, she spoke to her mental health keyworker, expressing longstanding suicidal ideation, and attended the community drug and alcohol team office, where she was described as tearful and in low mood. Later that day, she was fatally struck by a train.
Assistant coroner Sarah Murphy issued a report on September 14, 2025, expressing serious concerns about the process that led to Ms. Tetley’s removal from the inpatient bed list before a proper mental health review. "During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken," Murphy wrote. She has given the chief executive of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust 56 days to respond to her report, which highlights the risk of patients being removed from inpatient bed lists before an appropriate review by a mental health professional.
Charlotte Tetley’s story is a sobering illustration of how the effects of grooming and abuse can reverberate for years, and how gaps in support systems can have fatal consequences. The coroner’s report serves as a call to action for health authorities, while the political debate in Scotland underscores the complexity of crafting effective, compassionate responses to child sexual exploitation. Both stories highlight the need for vigilance, accountability, and above all, a commitment to listening to survivors and learning from the past—no matter how uncomfortable those lessons may be.
As the Scottish Government faces pressure to reconsider its approach and as health authorities in England are urged to address systemic gaps, the real challenge remains: ensuring that survivors of abuse receive the protection, support, and justice they so desperately need.
