SCOTLAND
Scotsman

Child sexual abuse is ­written about everywhere in the media nowadays. Systematic sexual exploitation of ­children in places like Rotherham and ­Derby, high-profile offenders like Jimmy Savile, the historical abuse of ­children in institutional ­contexts like care homes and faith settings. Every day we are subjected to descriptions of unimaginable harm that leave us angry and distressed.

There’s been more over the last few weeks. A Scottish ­Government committee recently examined a bill to allow victims of abuse to claim compensation beyond the ­current time bar. If passed, it could ­permit claims dating back to 1964. The ­current time bar of three years has been a major barrier for ­survivors of sexual abuse achieving justice.

Police Scotland’s Detective Chief Superintendent Lesley Boals told the committee that the force last year examined files for the ongoing Scottish child abuse inquiry and identified 2,300 relating to 4,400 victims in…