Force learns from botched probe

Humberside Police say they have learned lessons from their handling of Operation Aldgate, which looked into allegations from 1965 to 1992 at St William's Children's Home in Market Weighton.

Earlier this year the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) identified a series of failings during the operation, including an apparent “assumption of guilt” towards some of those under investigation.

It was understandable, the watchdog said, if they felt “hounded... particularly if they are innocent”.

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Former school principal James Carragher and chaplain Anthony McCallen had already been convicted of sexual abuse when Aldgate was launched in April 2001, following complaints by former residents.

The IPCC ruled there were failings in the original investigation. Some lines of inquiry had not been followed up properly and there had been a lack of staff and resources.

Yesterday Det Supt Colin Andrews, who is leading the investigation, said they had met with the team from West Yorkshire Police, who did the review.

He said he believed he had “sufficient staff with the right skills mix” to do the job.