Police are investigating a thirty-year-long history of alleged sexual and physical abuse against children at the Hill End Hospital Adolescent Unit in St Albans.
The victims were highly vulnerable children being treated for mental illness who attended the facility until its closure in 1995. The investigation into Hill End came as part of a larger Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. The Inquiry was initiated to investigate current and former reports of sexual abuse in several UK hospitals and local authority care units.
Operation Meadow, as the investigation is known, is taking evidence on “the extent to which institutions have failed to protect children from sexual abuse” in institutions. Police have been working tirelessly to uncover the existence of sexual abuse in the armed forces, councils, police, clubs and associations, schools, hospitals, sports facilities, children’s homes, charities, religious groups and other public services.
Hertfordshire Constabulary said the number of victims at the Hill End Hospital Adolescent Unit in St Albans is as yet unknown, but police enquiries have commenced into reports of physical and sexual abuse against patients between 1969 and 1995.
The UK wide investigation into institutional abuse was sparked after the media furore that arose when allegations that Jimmy Savile abused child patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital over two decades came to light, while the late politician Cyril Smith was found to be targetting children at various institutions in Rochdale.
Further highlighting sexual abuse and sexual harassment, and raising media interest, in October 2017 it was revealed that highly influential film producer and executive, Harvey Weinstein allegedly used his position to rape, sexually assault or harass women in the industry. More than 80 women in the industry have subsequently came forward and accused Weinstein of similar acts.
Shortly after the first allegations started to emerge, Weinstein was fired from his company, The Weinstein company and expelled from a number of professional associations. Investigations into complaints from at least six women are ongoing; Weinstein is denying allegations relating to non-consensual sex.
The scandal triggered has triggered widespread attention to sexual abuse, and has since seen many prominent men facing allegations. Westminster is currently seeing a huge scandal emerge as nearly forty MPs, including Cabinet and former Cabinet ministers, are facing allegations.
As in Hollywood, the cultural norms not only make the abuse of power possible, they offer protection to abusers. Each MP employs their own resource, which means staff have very little in the way of independent guidance and support. In a political world, coming forward with a complaint against another party member is shunned and viewed as a sign of disloyalty. Labour activist Bex Bailey recently exposed how she was warned by a senior Labour party official that if she reported that she was raped at a party event it could damage her career.
What is certain is awareness is helping to bring more and more people forward in what is an astonishing epidemic of sexual abuse in western society. As individuals are being brought to justice, one can hope this will deter perpetrators and inform victims’ families of the potential risk, thus helping to stamp out the abuse disease. On the other hand, while there is something of a large-scale witch-hunt taking place, it is crucial that those facing allegations are protected so they can have the opportunity to clear their name before ill-made or loosely based allegations destroy career and family life. It is also important, if the case does go to trial, defendants are given a right to a fair trial. In cases of historic sexual abuse, where evidence can be ropey, based on faded memories in witness statements, a lack of scientific evidence, and where bias can weigh heavily on a jury’s outcome where the case is in the public interest, this can be a significant concern, and one that must be handled carefully by a highly skilled defence team.
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