Children’s home staff facing abuse charges

Humberside Police are close to completing a third investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at St William’s, a former children’s home in Market Weighton.

A new file has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service as part of Operation Reno, which has seen police quiz 16 former members of staff and speak to 94 alleged victims.

Colin Andrews, a former chief superintendent who is the operation’s senior investigating officer, said: “There is enough evidence, in my opinion, to charge them but that decision is not mine. We have only sent files to the CPS where we think there is enough evidence.”

Mr Andrews said the alleged offences include “dozens and dozens” of rapes dating back to the 1960s.

Three people have also been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. The arrests are thought to be linked to possible false claims of abuse and charges are being considered.

In November last year, the Supreme Court ruled that a Roman Catholic lay order, the De La Salle Brotherhood, must share liability for a multi-million pound compensation claim for child abuse at the home.

The Brotherhood, which provided staff to the home, will have to compensate victims of abuse committed by its members, along with the Middlesbrough Diocese, which had overall responsibility for the home’s management.

A spokeswoman for the CPS said: “In addition to the files previously submitted in this case by the police to the CPS, which remain under consideration, the police have recently submitted a further file to the CPS for a number of further complainants for consideration.”