Over 200 come forward to help investigation into historic child abuse at north Wales care homes

More than 97%  alleged victims have already been video interviewed by police as part of Operation Pallial
Allegations of historic child abuse from more than 200 alleged victims are now being investigated in a fresh inquiry.

The number of people who have come forward to provide information to the Operation Pallial investigation has shot up by nearly a 100 since the first Public Report into its progress in April.

Since the investigation began nearly a year ago, a total of 235 people have contacted the Operation Pallial team, of whom 204 have indicated they are willing to support the investigation.

Pallial has made a total of 14 arrests to date and one person has been charged with more than 30 serious sexual offences.

The 13 other individuals arrested have all been bailed while enquiries continue.

The inquiry has also been given the names or part names of around 100 alleged offenders who are all subject to further investigation at this time, including 24 who are believed to have died.

Even in these cases, information about them will be investigated by Pallial in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service so that victims can be updated, inquiry chiefs said.

More than 97% of complainants have already been video interviewed by specially trained officers.

Operation Pallial is a National Crime Agency-led investigation, headed by the Director General Keith Bristow and supported by police forces across the country.

 Ian Mulcahey, the Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Pallial said: “Operation Pallial is currently pursuing a large number of active lines of enquiry, working closely with police forces across the country and agencies and charities that provide support to victims of crime.

 “Those who have come forward to report abuse in North Wales now live across England, Wales and Scotland, and many are receiving on-going support and counselling as we work hard to bring offenders to justice.”

 Ed Beltrami, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wales, said: “We are now very clear that the focus must be on the overall credibility of an allegation, rather than the perceived weakness of the person making it.

 “I think it’s right that those who have reported abuse in North Wales have their courage recognised by CPS lawyers looking seriously at what they have said, even where the alleged abuser is no longer alive.”

 The massive task of coordinating the support needs of all victims of abuse who have come forward is being led by Conwy County Borough Council on behalf of local authorities across North Wales.

 Victims now live across the UK, with 54% of them now aged between 40 and 50 years old.

 Jenny Williams, Director of Social Services at Conwy council said: “The impact of abuse on people’s lives has been profound with many individuals feeling that their life has been destroyed.”

Mark Polin, Chief Constable of North Wales said: “When the public report was published in April I said that offenders would have to look over their shoulders for the rest of their lives, this remains the case.”

Anybody who wishes to contact the inquiry can call the helpline on 0808 800 5000.