Wales child abuse News

A man arrested in Ipswich as part of Operation Pallial, which is investigating recent allegations relating to historic child abuse in North Wales, has been released on bail until the end of July.

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The man was arrested in Ipswich this morning.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency says it is the first arrest as part of Operation Pallial, which last November started investigating recent allegations relating to historic child abuse in North Wales.

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Officers investigating recent allegations of historic child abuse in North Wales have arrested a man in Suffolk on suspicion of a number of serious sexual offences against a number of individuals.

He is being taken to a police station in North Wales, where he will be interviewed.

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North Wales Police will receive approximately £683,000 to support the police inquiry into child abuse in North Wales.

After a parliamentary question from Delyn MP David Hanson, the Government announced new funding for the operation, which will examine new allegations of historic child abuse in care homes.

I welcome the government’s response to my question and the new money that will help support our police as they carry out this important and historic inquiry to get justice for the victims of this terrible abuse.

However, the Minister failed to answer exactly how much this investigation is expected to cost, and made no assurances that the taxpayers of North Wales will not still have make a further contribution.

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ITV Wales News can reveal that the Deputy Manager of a North Wales care home made allegations of abuse at the centre, 10 years before his boss was jailed for sex crimes.

Des Frost was working at the Bryn Alyn Care Home when he spoke to a journalist.

But the Waterhouse Inquiry which investigated claims threatened an injunction if the interview was used.

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Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has called for the Waterhouse Inquiry into child abuse at Welsh care homes to be reopened in the light of new allegations of a high-level cover-up. Ms Wood says she'll be 'raising the issue as a matter of urgency with the Welsh Government.'

It appears that there is further institutionalised abuse that needs to be exposed, in addition to the scandal that was uncovered and investigated more than a decade ago. These men in a position of power have so far been protected and that cannot be allowed to continue. They have to be brought to justice for their actions. The victims deserve justice, and the wider public has to be able to have confidence in the system.

I fully support the calls of Wales’s Children’s Commissioner for an inquiry. The office of the Children’s Commissioner was established as a result of the Waterhouse Inquiry and it is important that he is empowered to do his job properly. I would like to see the Waterhouse Inquiry reopened with its terms of reference expanded. The Party of Wales will be raising this with the Welsh Government in the Assembly as a matter of urgency this week to see exactly what can be done. I have also asked people affected to get in touch on a confidential basis via twitter and facebook.

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