POLICE have received complaints from more than 360 people about physical and sexual abuse in Scottish orphanages run by Quarriers, Barnardo’s and Aberlour.
The force revealed the extent of the complaints during the the opening statements in phase three of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in Edinburgh yesterday.
Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen, representing Police Scotland, said investigations had been carried out relating to incidents dating back to the 1930s. She added that 366 former residents had made complaints against 388 people.
A number of people have already been convicted.
The inquiry has been tasked with examining historical allegations of the abuse of children in care and began taking statements from witnesses in the spring of 2016.
The latest shocking statistics were revealed as John Swinney used a statement in Holyrood to apologise to “everyone who suffered abuse in care in Scotland”.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, the Deputy First Minister said the government wanted legislation for a compensation scheme for abuse survivors passed before 2021.
He also confirmed that advance payments will be made as soon as possible to survivors who may not live long enough to apply to a statutory scheme, due to either ill-health or age.
Swinney said: “Today, on behalf of the Scottish Government, I offer an unreserved and heartfelt apology to everyone who suffered abuse in care in Scotland.
“We are deeply ashamed of what happened.
“We will progress, without delay, to detailed design of a redress scheme, ensuring we learn lessons from other countries. We will move to make advance payments as soon as we possibly can, and will do so with urgency.
“I am determined we will have a redress scheme in Scotland which treats survivors with sensitivity and respect.
“Their courage and determination to speak out for justice and to protect children today and in the future from experiencing the abuse that they suffered is inspiring.”
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