By Basant El-Faramawy
Survivor Holly Alex has accused the Scottish government of moving too slowly on a promised public inquiry into grooming gangs, nearly nine months after ministers pledged to act "at pace." Alex, 36, went into care at 14 and says social workers and police were aware she was being groomed for sex by adult men during her time in children's homes across Edinburgh and Livingston.
Abuse detailed in care records
Social care records seen by BBC Scotland show repeated concerns that Alex was being "groomed" by "adult Asian men" as a teenager. The documents indicate she went missing from accommodation, returned intoxicated with unexplained money, and was described by professionals as "sexually promiscuous" and "flirtatious." Alex estimates 25 to 50 men were involved in her abuse in a series of flats between ages 14 and 17. She says initial friendship and generosity turned into exploitation, with explicit demands for sexual acts in exchange for money, alcohol, cigarettes, and food, and physical violence when she tried to leave.
Government inquiry delayed
The Scottish government ordered a statutory public inquiry in February following political pressure, with then Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth vowing to "leave no stone unturned." Current Education Secretary Màiri McAllan says safeguarding children is the utmost priority and the inquiry, to be chaired by Prof Alexis Jay, is a core part of that work. However, almost nine months later, Alex says survivors are still waiting for meaningful progress. "If you say you'll do something at pace, do it at pace," she said. "Don't just pay lip service to it. Some people's lives depend on the truth coming out."
Concerns over inquiry scope
Alex also warned that the term "grooming gang" has been weaponised and twisted to fit certain narratives, leading some survivors to fear exclusion if their abusers do not match a particular ethnic profile. She emphasized that a grooming gang is a group of two or more perpetrators regardless of ethnicity. A national review published in September, also overseen by Prof Jay, found no reliable national picture of the scale of offending due to inconsistent data collection and lack of an agreed definition.
Ministers to update parliament
Ministers are expected to provide an update on the inquiry at Holyrood on Thursday. Alex has been invited to participate in the Scottish government's Truth Project pilot, running alongside the public inquiry. In June 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a separate statutory independent investigation into grooming gangs in England and Wales.
Previous conviction and council changes
Alex's evidence previously helped convict her abuser, carer Gordon Collins, who was sentenced to 10 years in 2016 for indecent behaviour towards her and three other young people. City of Edinburgh Council has apologised to Alex and said her testimony contributed to significant changes, including the closure of all secure residential accommodation in the city. The council acknowledged more work is needed to learn lessons from the past.
