CHILD abuse campaigners have welcomed the widening of a police investigation to take in a former Glasgow children’s home.
Police Scotland are appealing for staff and former residents of Park Lodge children’s home to come forward if they have any information about possible abuse carried out there more 30 years ago.
The force are seeking witnesses who worked or lived at the 20-bed home in Calderwood Road, in Newlands between 1979 and 1985, when it was run by Strathclyde Regional Council. Park Lodge was passed to Glasgow City Council when local government was reorganised in 1996, and the authority subsequently closed it in 2008. Anyone with information is being asked to contact Detective Constable Stuart Esplin of the Greater Glasgow Public Protection Unit.
The move is understood to be part of an ongoing investigation, as a result of new information Police Scotland officers have received, relating to a person of interest who is now thought to have worked at the home over the six year period.
Although the investigation is understood to have been going on for some time, the possible involvement of Park lodge is relatively new.
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) is passing information about historic child abuse allegations to police as they are reported by people who come forward to the inquiry, but the case is not among 69 institutions currently named as under investigation by SCAI as part of its work examining abuse in care settings. In this instance, Police Scotland is understood to have alerted the inquiry to the claims.
A spokesman for the SCAI said it would not comment on individual cases.
Helen Holland of child abuse survivors campaign group Incas (In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland) welcomed the increasing willingness of the police to look at historic cases, by sharing information, as happens with the UK wide Operation Hydrant joint investigations into historic child abuse.
“Despite me and others giving witness statements to the police about the nun who abused me, it wasn’t until she died that I found out they had never even spoken to her,” Ms Holland said. “Neither had the Crown Office, even though a decision was taken not to prosecute her because of her age and “infirmity”.
“Victims often found un the past that police wouldn’t act, because of corroboration, lawyers wouldn’t because of the time bar stopping cases and there was no justice for survivors at all.
“So I think it is a big step forward that police are taking action regardless of how long ago the abuse took place. It is very encouraging.”
Child abuse cases are often the word of one person against another, but could be corroborated if people reported similar experiences, even in different locations, under the principle known as the Moorov Doctrine, she said - if the same person was accused of the abuse.
Ms Holland claims such action could prevent future cases. “If people know that it doesn’t matter how long has passed, their crimes will be investigated, they might think twice.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on an on-going inquiry. However, we will offer police any assistance we can should they wish to get in touch.”.
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