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North Wales care abuse: Jillings report published after 17 years Jillings report: 'Extensive' abuse at children's homes
(about 1 hour later)
A report written 17 years ago, which has finally been published, identified "extensive" abuse at children's homes in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s. A report written 17 years ago, which has finally been published, identified long-term "extensive" abuse at children's homes in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s.
Allegations of abuse at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s.Allegations of abuse at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s.
An inquiry by John Jillings was carried in 1996 out but later shelved. An inquiry by John Jillings was carried out in 1996 but later shelved.
But following fresh inquiries into the abuse and an FOI by BBC Wales the report was published. But following fresh inquiries into the abuse the report was published.
The report found:
The 300-page report was initially written in 1996 after it was commissioned by the former Clwyd County Council.
It had followed North Wales Police's investigation into abuse claims in 1991 and the conviction of seven former care workers.
But as more claims of widespread abuse in almost 40 homes emerged, the former Clwyd County Council commissioned Mr Jillings in March 1994 to investigate.
But it was never published.
Mr Jillings, a former director of social services for Derbyshire, said the council was worried about costly insurance claims and his report never saw the light of day.
A redacted [edited] version of the report was finally made public and published online on Monday following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by BBC Wales.
The report said: "Our investigations have led us to conclude that the abuse of children and young people in Clwyd residential units has been extensive, and has taken place over a substantial number of years."The report said: "Our investigations have led us to conclude that the abuse of children and young people in Clwyd residential units has been extensive, and has taken place over a substantial number of years."
It added: "It is clear that, in a significant number of cases, the lives of young people who have been through the care system in Clwyd have been severely disrupted and disturbed. At least 12 young people are dead."It added: "It is clear that, in a significant number of cases, the lives of young people who have been through the care system in Clwyd have been severely disrupted and disturbed. At least 12 young people are dead."
The report said of "the many statements" taken, "it is unclear how many were forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration", and "it is also unclear how many other professionals, including police officers, were named in these statements as perpetrators of assaults". The report said of "the many statements" taken, "it is unclear how many were forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] for consideration", and "it is also unclear how many other professionals, including police officers, were named in these statements as perpetrators of assaults".
It continued: "We do not know how many disciplinaries may have resulted.
"We do know of at least three current employees of Clwyd Social Services Department who were interviewed as part of the investigation. To our knowledge none of them was disciplined."
However, the panel concluded they could not hope to address successfully the wider areas of concern, including that public figures had been involved in the abuse.However, the panel concluded they could not hope to address successfully the wider areas of concern, including that public figures had been involved in the abuse.
The report said its investigations were limited by a number of "constraining factors", including that it was "unclear to what extent material held by North Wales Police might be available". The report had "frank criticism" for individuals at the council as well as "aspects of policy and practice," but said they "nevertheless respect the authority for its determination to examine what went wrong".
It added that "some former staff members and staff representing other organisations declined to meet" with the investigating panel. It said that "the most striking fact to emerge is that five men who shared in common their employment as residential care workers at Bryn Estyn were convicted of serious offences involving at least 24 young people."
It also said there was a "lack of clarity" in relation to accessibility of some social services files, and at one point the report panel considered abandoning the investigation. According to the Jillings report, another inquiry into abuse at the Cartrefle children's home was not published because of CPS concerns it may prejudice a prosecution, as well as concerns over insurance.
Abuse allegations 'Detailed scrutiny'
Separate inquiries have been looking at whether abuse claims were more widespread than previously thought. It said Clwyd council was particularly vulnerable to criticism because the local authority was about to cease under a re-structuring of councils.
Allegations of abuse at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s. The report went on to say that other agencies, such as health, education, probation, North Wales Police and the Welsh Office "require similarly careful and detailed scrutiny" to put more effective safeguards in place.
North Wales Police investigated the claims in 1991 and seven former care workers were convicted. In a statement, all north Wales councils recognised the report may "distress" those connected to the abuse. It said very few children were placed in residential care, but those who are, have their needs "reviewed and monitored carefully".
But as more claims of widespread abuse in almost 40 homes emerged, the former Clwyd County Council commissioned Mr Jillings in March 1994 to investigate. The statement added that "since the publication of the Waterhouse report... significant new statutory legislation and guidance has been implemented.... in particular, within all new legislation and guidance are the rights of the child".
Mr Jillings, a former director of social services for Derbyshire, said the council was worried about costly insurance claims and his report never saw the light of day. Abuse inquiries
A redacted [edited] version of the 300-page report was finally made public and published online on Monday following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC.
Interviewed shortly before its publication Mr Jillings told the BBC that abuse was widespread within a group of homes where children were isolated.Interviewed shortly before its publication Mr Jillings told the BBC that abuse was widespread within a group of homes where children were isolated.
He said: "They didn't have regular supervisory visits from headquarters staff, as I understand it. Or if they did, they weren't very searching.He said: "They didn't have regular supervisory visits from headquarters staff, as I understand it. Or if they did, they weren't very searching.
"So the staff for 99% of their time were on their own with the children, could treat them as they wished."So the staff for 99% of their time were on their own with the children, could treat them as they wished.
"They regarded them as children who were out of control and they thought the way of dealing with that is by severely treating them."They regarded them as children who were out of control and they thought the way of dealing with that is by severely treating them.
"The treatment of children was bestial really; they weren't treated like human beings, by some members of staff at any rate."The treatment of children was bestial really; they weren't treated like human beings, by some members of staff at any rate.
"I mean some children died, 10 children died. Some of them committed suicide." "I mean some children died. Some of them committed suicide."
The Jillings inquiry was followed by another investigation by the late Sir Ronald Waterhouse, which took four years to complete.The Jillings inquiry was followed by another investigation by the late Sir Ronald Waterhouse, which took four years to complete.
Sir Ronald found there had been "appalling mistreatment" of children over a period of 20 years.Sir Ronald found there had been "appalling mistreatment" of children over a period of 20 years.
He had gathered evidence from 650 people, with most allegations focusing on seven homes.He had gathered evidence from 650 people, with most allegations focusing on seven homes.
Last year the scandal re-emerged after a victim claimed the Waterhouse report in 2000 had not uncovered the full scale of the abuse.Last year the scandal re-emerged after a victim claimed the Waterhouse report in 2000 had not uncovered the full scale of the abuse.
Home Secretary Theresa May then launched a new police inquiry into the abuse allegations.Home Secretary Theresa May then launched a new police inquiry into the abuse allegations.
And Clwyd council's successor authorities such as Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council began searching their archives for a copy of that report.And Clwyd council's successor authorities such as Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council began searching their archives for a copy of that report.
The successor authorities are also due to publish a statement and outline the reasons for the redactions that have been made.The successor authorities are also due to publish a statement and outline the reasons for the redactions that have been made.