Police under pressure in sex abuse inquiry

SCOTLAND
Express

By GREG CHRISTISON
Sun, Aug 30, 2015

Senior officers have warned that the probe – due to begin within the next month – will place a “significant demand” on the crisis-hit force.

The inquiry, which will be chaired by Susan O’Brien QC, will investigate historic abuse cases involving children in care, including both church and state-run children’s homes, boarding schools, foster care and hospitals.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone told a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority that there would be an impact on resources.

“It’s an inquiry that Police Scotland totally welcomes,” he said.

“It’s going to give victims of sexual abuse in the past a forum in which to raise their concerns but, inevitably, there will be an impact for us. There are demands of investigating historic crime as opposed to current crime, and how you balance current demand against historic demand is one which we are actively engaged with.”

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