Former Social Worker Claims Complaints Of Child Sexual Abuse Made In 1990s Were Ignored

A former senior social worker has claimed that police failed to properly investigate complaints of child sexual abuse in Nottinghamshire care homes.

Since an investigation into 13 Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire homes began in 2010, 100 complaints of historical abuse have been made.

However, the former social worker said she had also made reports in the 1990s and early 2000s, closer to the time of the incidents. She believes that the reports were not originally believed because of the children's backgrounds.

Wishing to remain anonymous, the former social worker spoke to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. "The difficulty that we had was that the residential staff would deny it. They would provide alibis for each other," she said.

Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, who was interviewed as a witness due to his time as a social worker in Nottinghamshire in the 1970s, said: "Historically, victims haven't been listened to enough."

The ongoing investigation in to historical claims, dating back to the 1960s, is one of the largest the Nottinghamshire police force have ever undertaken.

Head of Public Protection, Supt. Helen Chamberlain, said: "What's emerging today is a very complex scenario where we have a number of allegations made by over 100 people quite often more than 30 years on.

"Much of the information recorded at the time has been destroyed and some suspects have died."

We are committed to pursuing child abuse cases to the best possible outcome, without causing any additional psychological trauma to those affected. See our Child Abuse Claims page for more information or call 0370 150 100 to talk confidentially to someone about making a claim.

Expert Opinion

Very serious concerns have been raised in relation to abuse in the Nottinghamshire area and it is vital that steps are taken to ensure that the issues are fully investigated. The primary aim must be to ensure that information can be gathered which will mean lessons can be learned to prevent such problems in the future. <br/> <br/>"Abuse and neglect can have a major impact on victims and our work means we have seen how such people can go on to suffer physical and psychological trauma that affects them for the rest of the lives." Tracey Storey - Partner