Children identified as possible victims of sexual assault in Devon nursery investigation
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
A ‘number of children’ aged two and above have been identified as potential victims by police investigating claims of sexual assault at Jack and Jill Childcare in Torquay.
The setting, which is now suspended by Ofsted, has been subject to an ongoing investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police since July due to allegations of sexual assault.
At the time, one person was arrested in connection with the incident, but they have since been released on police bail until 22 November 2019, with conditions that include ‘not to attend within the area of the nursery’.
Today police said that a ‘number of children’ could be potential victims. They confirmed that the offences are likely to be the actions of a ‘lone individual’ and that they ‘do not involve the taking or distributing of any images’.
Nursery World reported in August that Jack and Jill Childcare had suspended a member of staff following an incident at the setting, and that this was being investigated by police.
According to Devon and Cornwall Police, a multi-agency response, involving the police, local authority, NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group and Ofsted, was launched to investigate the allegation of sexual assault.
Acting detective chief inspector James Stock of the Public Protection Unit said, ‘Since the information was received in July, a police investigation has been ongoing. As part of this, over 250 hours of CCTV from within Jack and Jill Childcare have been reviewed. As a result of CCTV enquires, a number of children aged two plus have been identified as potential victims of contact offences.
‘We have now contacted all parents and guardians of children who attended Jack and Jill Childcare in relation to our investigation. Specialist officers from the Public Protection Unit and our colleagues from social services have visited the parents and guardians of those children we believe may be victims. They will continue to receive multi-agency support in the coming days, weeks and months.
‘The contact appears to be limited to within the nursery setting and we do not believe that any other member of staff had knowledge of these matters.’
An Ofsted spokesperson said, ‘Jack and Jill Childcare (URN EY553573) is suspended. All parents of children who attend the provider have been informed.’
