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| Jillings report: 'Extensive' abuse at children's homes | Jillings report: 'Extensive' abuse at children's homes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A report written 17 years ago, has finally been published, identifying long-term "extensive" abuse at children's homes in north Wales during the 1970s through to the 1990s. | |
| Abuse allegations at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s. | Abuse allegations at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s. |
| An inquiry by John Jillings was carried out in 1996 but later shelved. | An inquiry by John Jillings was carried out in 1996 but later shelved. |
| In response, a joint statement from the councils in north Wales said the safety of children was now a high priority. | |
| The report found: | The report found: |
| The 300-page report was initially written in 1996 after it was commissioned by the former Clwyd County Council, which covered the areas now represented by Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham councils. | The 300-page report was initially written in 1996 after it was commissioned by the former Clwyd County Council, which covered the areas now represented by Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham councils. |
| It had followed North Wales Police's investigation into abuse claims in 1991 and the conviction of seven former care workers. | 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 as more claims of widespread abuse in almost 40 homes emerged, the former Clwyd County Council commissioned Mr Jillings in March 1994 to investigate. |
| However, it was never published. | However, 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Home Secretary Theresa May then launched a new police inquiry into the abuse allegations. | |
| 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. | |
| A redacted [edited] version of the Jillings report was finally made public and published online on Monday following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC. | |
| 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 [CPS] 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". |
| 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 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". | 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 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 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Too little too late' | 'Too little too late' |
| Summarising, the report said: "Our findings show that time and again the response to indications that children may have been abused has been too little and too late. | Summarising, the report said: "Our findings show that time and again the response to indications that children may have been abused has been too little and too late. |
| "Furthermore the needs and interests of children and young people have tended to be an incidental, rather than a primary concern." | "Furthermore the needs and interests of children and young people have tended to be an incidental, rather than a primary concern." |
| The report urged a public judicial inquiry, and says that the former residents who made complaints "did not appear to be motivated out of a desire for financial recompense" and "the motivation appeared to be a genuine desire to see the situation improved for children in care". | The report urged a public judicial inquiry, and says that the former residents who made complaints "did not appear to be motivated out of a desire for financial recompense" and "the motivation appeared to be a genuine desire to see the situation improved for children in care". |
| It said Clwyd council was particularly vulnerable to criticism because the local authority was about to cease under a re-structuring of councils. | It said Clwyd council was particularly vulnerable to criticism because the local authority was about to cease under a re-structuring of councils. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Following the publication of the report, a joint statement from the north Wales councils was released. | Following the publication of the report, a joint statement from the north Wales councils was released. |
| It said: "The North Wales Councils recognise that the release of the report may bring distress to those affected by historic abuse and they encourage anyone who is affected by its release to call one of the numbers below if they need support. | It said: "The North Wales Councils recognise that the release of the report may bring distress to those affected by historic abuse and they encourage anyone who is affected by its release to call one of the numbers below if they need support. |
| "All councils have and will continue to support anyone affected by abuse. | "All councils have and will continue to support anyone affected by abuse. |
| "In north Wales, the safeguarding of children and young people is a high priority for today's councils." | |