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Agenda item

Independent investigation into past abuse in Islington Children's Care Homes

Decision:

An additional recommendation was agreed:

Recommendation 2.4:
To note that the Executive recognises that some children in Islington care had been subject to abuse during the 1970s, as well as the 1980s and early 1990s and to extend the apology given to all victims who suffered child abuse whilst in the borough’s care.

SUBJECT TO THE ABOVE ADDITION, THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE AGREED.

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Richard Watts welcomed everyone present, particularly the members of the Islington Survivors Network and introduced the item with the following statement:

“Tonight’s meeting includes a report relating to abuse of children in Islington’s care homes in the 1980s and 1990s. It is no exaggeration to say that this was the darkest chapter in the council’s history. Children, placed in our care, were subjected to terrible physical and mental abuse which, understandably, has had a deeply traumatic effect on those who are now adults and continue to suffer.

As Leader of Islington Council I want to say again we are deeply sorry for the council’s past failure to protect vulnerable children. Although the word ‘sorry’ feels inadequate, I offer this apology to every single person who has been scarred by the events of that terrible time. Today it is our duty as a council to do the right thing and to try to address the failings of the past.  The report recommends that the Executive as a whole formally apologises for past failures, and I am sure all my colleagues will strongly support this recommendation.

In recent years, we have worked closely with many survivors of this abuse. We are grateful for the help we have received from the Islington Survivors Network, and for the support they offer to survivors. We also want to thank Liz Davies for her dedication to the survivors and for her ongoing work with the council.

The Council has helped people to report allegations to specialist police officers without the need to visit a police station.  We’ve also helped survivors to get extra priority for council housing, and advice about legal representation, and we are commissioning a specialist counselling service for abuse survivors.

The council appointed James Goudie QC and Holly Stout to examine the issues raised in May this year by the Islington Gazette about former mayor, Ms Sandy Marks.  We said at the time that they would be free to follow any line of inquiry they felt appropriate, and that the council would be bound by their recommendations. 

In 1995 the Council received a report of an investigation by Ian White and Kate Hart – known as the White Report – into the council’s management of allegations of abuse of children in Islington’s care.  This report is very much of its own time, and some of the language used is insensitive by today’s standards.  The report was deeply critical of the council and led to profound changes in the council’s management of childrens’ services.

Tonight, the Executive receives the Joint Opinion of James Goudie QC and Holly Stout as to whether the Islington Gazette’s information about Sandy Marks could reasonably be said to call into question the integrity of the White Report.  Their conclusion is that the new allegations do have an impact, albeit a limited one, and that a new, independent investigation should examine the issues the White Report would have covered had the allegations about Sandy Marks been known at that time. The Executive should note that the allegations are denied by Sandy Marks.

We will continue to keep in close contact with the Islington Survivors Network and to keep them updated on developments. We have already shared the Joint Opinion with the Islington Survivors’ Network and the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. 

Islington Council today is a very different organisation, and protecting children from harm is our top priority. But we rightly remain deeply sorry and ashamed of the failings of the past.”

A number of the survivors recounted details of their experiences of repeated physical, sexual and emotional abuse whilst in council care homes and in council approved foster care and of the devastating and lasting effects it has had on their lives and their families.  They recounted that even staff not directly involved didn’t care and that no-one did anything to stop it.  Some recounted that the abuse continued over a number of years, throughout all their time in care, regardless of what home they were in.  A number of survivors expressed their view that the abuse was organised and that a paedophile ring had been operating in the borough.  One survivor, who had not been in care, recounted his experience of being chosen from his junior school class, by a council care home manager, to go on holiday and of being repeatedly abused while there.  One of the survivors advised that he believes he was taken to Haut de la Garenne in Jersey in 1978 and requested that the report be amended to recognise that children in care in the 1970s also suffered abuse.
Councillor Watts and the Executive agreed to add a recommendation to the report to acknowledge this.

 

The survivors asked a number of questions about the process to lodge complaints, what support is available, for assistance with benefits claims, about whether or not today’s foster carers understand the complex issues being experienced by those in their care and if children are being excluded from school too quickly.  They also raised questions about the integrity of the White Report and asked if the remit of the investigation could be widened.

 

Dr Liz Davies, Reader in Child Protection (Emeritus) at the London Metropolitan University and founder of the Islington Survivors Network, advised that there was evidence that lots of people were involved and that new survivors were coming forward every day with additional information.  Dr Davies advised that the survivors want justice; for the abusers to be convicted, for those who colluded with them to be convicted and for the survivors to get full redress.  Dr Davies advised that she was very grateful that the council has initiated the investigation.

 

Councillor Watts thanked Dr Davies and all the survivors for coming to the meeting and for their bravery in telling their stories. Councillor Watts said how sorry he was and apologised to the survivors again.  Councillor Watts also apologised to Dr Davies for the way the concerns she raised were handled at the time.  Councillor Watts also put on record his thanks to Gazette for undertaking the initial investigation.

 

In answer to the questions asked, Councillor Watts advised that the council does not have power to investigate crimes or arrest anyone and that any investigation of criminal activity, such as this, must be undertaken by the Police.  Councillor Watts advised survivors to contact staff from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Winter Key and advised that the council will assist the Islington Survivors Network to contact the Police and offer the Police any support necessary to bring people to justice.

 

Councillor Watts advised that today’s council and its children’s services are very different and although the White Report investigation did not lead to significant numbers of convictions, its remit was to look at what the council should do differently and it was very important within the council as it was the catalyst for the positive changes that have happened since in children’s care.

Councillor Watts advised that the council is putting new services in place provide trauma and abuse counselling and that we are getting better at spotting and helping people to deal with trauma and violence they have experienced or witnessed.  Councillor Watts also advised that there is a process to lodge complaints and a range of care packages available and advised the survivors to speak to the Corporate Director of Housing and Adult Social Services after the meeting.

 

Councillor Watts also committed to liaise with the Islington Survivors Network over the appointment of a QC to undertake the investigation.

 

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations as amended below be agreed:

2.1       That the statement by the Leader from May 2017, and an apology to victims
            of child abuse in Islington care homes for the council’s past failings (see
            paragraphs 3.12 and 3.13 of the report) be endorsed.

2.2       That an independent investigation of the new evidence relating to Sandy
            Marks, adhering to the terms of reference set out in paragraph 3.20 of the
            report, be agreed.

 

2.3       That authority to select of the lead investigator be delegated to the Director of
            Law and Governance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

2.4       That the Executive recognises that some children in Islington’s care had been
            subject to abuse during the 1970s, as well as the 1980s and early 1990s and
            that the apology be extended to all victims who suffered child abuse whilst in
            the borough’s care be noted.
 

Reason for decision – to acknowledge the fact that people are still suffering from the Council’s past failings, and to apologise for them and to commission a further independent investigation as described in the recommendations.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Supporting documents: