IPCC announces findings from managed investigation into Humberside Police's Operation Aldgate

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has concluded a lengthy and complex managed investigation into complaints about how Humberside Police conducted an investigation into alleged physical and sexual abuse at St Williams Children's Home, Market Weighton, East Yorkshire between 1965 and 1992.

Humberside Police’s Operation Aldgate began in April 2001 to investigate complaints made by former residents of the home, which was run by the De La Salle teaching order to provide residential care and education for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed males aged 11 to 18.

The operation followed on from the conviction of the former school principal, James Carragher, and chaplain Anthony McCallen on charges of sexual abuse.

Complaints were made by individuals who had been subject to the police investigation about the conduct of Operation Aldgate and the matter was referred to the IPCC in July 2005. The subsequent investigation, which was led by West Yorkshire Police’s Deputy Chief Constable David Crompton, under the direction and control of the IPCC, looked into 120 complaints by nine people.

Of those 120 complaints, 25 have been substantiated, six have been partly substantiated and 80 have been unsubstantiated. A further nine complaints could not be proved or disproved.

The main findings from the complaints that were substantiated are that:

•There was a lack of resources and funding to ensure a robust investigation was undertaken. This lead to officers undertaking several roles and resulted in a lack of supervision of staff;

•There was a failure to investigate an allegation of witness intimidation;

•There was a failure to ensure detailed policy and rationale for decision-making was properly recorded. This lead to an inconsistent approach on the arrest of individuals, while there was no rationale why some named suspects were not investigated;

•There was a failure to pursue reasonable lines of enquiry which would have helped prove/disprove witness and suspect accounts;

•There was a failure to seek corroboration in respect of allegations made;

•There was a failure to adhere to national guidelines in respect of allegations of historic sexual abuse;

•False and misleading information was supplied to an outside agency in relation to one of the complainants.

As a result of the findings of the investigation it has been recommended that two officers receive formal words of advice.

Nicholas Long, IPCC Commissioner for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: This was a very difficult investigation dealing with highly sensitive matters. The investigation has found the majority of the complaints to be unproven, but it is clear there were failings in the investigation. Some of these appear to have been due to the failure to pursue lines of inquiry, compounded by lack of staff and resources.

The basis of any investigation must be about the thorough examination of all available evidence to reach a conclusion. In this instance, whether it was on the basis of the prior convictions of Carragher and McCallen, there appears to have been an assumption of guilt. In such circumstances it is understandable that those subject to the investigation will feel hounded and under unwarranted pressure, particularly if they are innocent.

Mr Long added: Despite the passage of time, I am sure lessons will be learned in relation to this matter. Recommendations arising from this investigation seek to amend national guidance and local procedures over the handling of investigations into allegations of historic sexual and physical abuse.

There are no winners in this matter. Lives have been ruined – either due to the abuse that has been proven to have taken place or due to innocent people being the subject of an intense investigation. I appreciate the conclusion of this investigation may bring back difficult memories, and may not provide all the outcomes sought, but I do hope it does give some clearer understanding of what happened.

I would like to thank West Yorkshire Police for the thoroughness of their investigation. I would also like to thank the complainants and Humberside Police for their patience and cooperation. The fact the investigation has taken four years is due to the complexity, nature and sensitivity of the matters under investigation.”

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Media contact:

Ian Christon, IPCC Regional Communications Officer (North Region) Tel 0161 246 8582 / 07717 851323