By James Simons-
A publication by the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (SOSA) has highlighted sexual abuse over a 30 year period that will lead to compensation for all who were at risk to sexual abuse at the time.
The report covers a period from the 1950s to the network’s closure in 1983. Lambeth Council will pay tens of millions of pounds to people who were at risk, whether or not they were abused at Shirley Oaks. The shocking report covers a period from the 1950’s to the closure of the network in 1983.
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News of the compensation comes following the naming of 27 men as alleged paedophiles in a publication by former residents of the home. Up to 60 abusers were active, and police officers were accused as being corrupt in the investigation.
The payments will not all be large, but higher payments will go to those who were abused.
Shirley Oaks was an 80-acre site near Croydon in south London that included cottages where children in care were looked after by house mothers and fathers. The site also included a school, swimming pool, sick bay and playing fields.
Police Provided Misleading Information
Two of those named in the report – William Hook and Philip Temple – have been convicted of child sexual abuse relating to Shirley Oaks. In a sickening and painful reminder of how the years of sexual abuse with impunity is catching up with offenders, this takes us back decades again.
The report also accuses one named police officer of “providing misleading information to victims” and of “informing one victim their abuser was dead when in fact he was alive”. Police misconduct has been widely reported since then and is nothing new, but continues to shed light on some of their shocking failings.
Lambeth Council leader, Lib Peck, said: “The council accepts that the system set up to protect vulnerable children failed.
She added: “Lambeth Council has previously publicly apologised to those who were so badly let down. The investigation by the Shirley Oaks Survivor’s Association has shone further light on the suffering of those entrusted into the council’s care.
“Lambeth Council is preparing a new, far reaching redress scheme for survivors of historical abuse in the borough. It will allow them to secure compensation quickly whilst minimising legal fees.”