Police start to trace sex abuse carers -- New Scandal
Mr Justice Stinks
http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/2000/07/11/timnwsnws01027.html
July 11 2000 BRITAIN
Police start to trace sex abuse carers
BY RUSSELL JENKINS
POLICE are to examine thousands of files of a generation of children in
Lancashire care homes and approved schools to see if they were the
victims of paedophile abuse.
The widescale inquiry hopes to root out care workers whose paedophile
activities evaded screening procedures and who may still be a danger
today.
The inquiry has been prompted by allegations made against 11 men who
worked in seven care establishments in the county, notably at Blackburn,
Darwen and Blackpool, in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. They are said to have
carried out a series of sex attacks against children in their care. The
children were aged five and older.
Detective Inspector Steve Marston said the inquiry team would focus on
dangers still posed to children in care. Allegations that have been
investigated might be re-examined. "Whether it is widespread or
organisational abuse, we do not know." The force is liaising with the
county council and social services in the three areas.
Some alleged victims, now adults, came forward to Lancashire
Constabulary as a result of Operation Whiting which investigated
allegations of sex abuse by priests and teachers at Stonyhurst College,
near Clitheroe. "It is surprising how many people are carrying around
this burden of child sexual abuse," Mr Marston said. "Clearly some
people felt Operation Whiting was more widespread and not as focused as
originally intended. But it has opened the floodgates."
Stephen Sloss, assistant director of social services for Blackburn and
Darwen council, insisted that the council had been rigorous in applying
the best practice. But there should be no complacency over "rotten
apples".
Max Winterbottom, of Lancashire County Council, said: "The authority
wishes to stress that the allegations are believed, in the main, to be
historic." Rigorous screening procedures involving the police and the
Department of Health were now in place.
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