POLICE are braced for an avalanche of new complaints of child sex abuse after the Scottish Government announced the wide-ranging remit of a public enquiry into historic cases.
Ministers pledged to "shine a light in the dark corners of the past" as it was announced top QC Susan O'Brien, who has experience of representing abuse victims, will lead the investigation which will have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.
It will cover allegations of abuse of children in formal institutional care including faith-based organisations, children's homes and secure care as well as those in foster care, long-term hospital care and boarding schools.
The Scottish Government said it also plans to lift the current three-year time bar for civil action in cases of historical child abuse since September 1964.
Education Secretary Angela Constance also announced £13.5 million over the next five years for a support fund for survivors of abuse in care, with a further £1 million for all victims of abuse, as she promised that the ''full force of the law'' would be used where crimes were uncovered.
Police Scotland welcomed the move and said dealing with child abuse would remain one of its top priorities. It predicted that reports of child abuse would rise as victims gained confidence as a result of the inquiry.
A spokesman said: "As such we will engage with the Scottish Government to work through the impact of this on resource, capability and capacity within Police Scotland."
In a statement to Parliament, Ms Constance said Ms O'Brien would bring "a wealth of experience" as well as expertise in human rights to the inquiry.
The QC was the legal chair for the panel that produced the 2003 report into the killing of Edinburgh baby Caleb Ness, which prompted a major overhaul of social-work services in the capital.
Ms O'Brien said: "I appreciate that no-one can provide full justice for any victim of abuse in childhood, but the Scottish Government is anxious to enable victims to tell us what happened to them and the impact it had on their lives.
"The inquiry panel will try to identify any lessons from past failures which will help to keep our children safe in the future."
The inquiry will cover allegations "within living memory" up to December 17 last year.
Ms Constance said: "It is important to emphasise that no inquiry can right the wrongs of the past. But that is not a reason to fail to act.
"This inquiry will aim to shine a light in the dark corners of the past, to shape how we respond in the present and guide how we go forward in the future.
"We need to learn all we can to ensure no institution becomes a hiding place for those who abuse positions of trust to prey on children. We will listen carefully to the inquiry's eventual recommendations and make whatever changes may be necessary to policy, practice or legislation."
She said a consultation on the lifting of the three-year time bar on civil action in cases of historical childhood abuse would take place in the summer.
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