Underley Hall School sex abuse scandal
If you have been affected by the Underley Hall School sex abuse scandal and would like to know where you stand on making a compensation claim then call our free confidential helpline on 0333 888 0445 or send an email to us at [email protected]
An inquiry into claims of historical physical and sexual abuse at a school in Cumbria is to be reviewed, the area’s police and crime commissioner has said.
An initial investigation was undertaken in 1996-97, but questions are being asked about the quality of that inquiry. The claims relate to sexual and physical abuse of pupils at Underley Hall School, a private residential boarding school in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.
Underley Hall School was closed down in 2012 after being judged ‘inadequate’ by OFSTED.
The review will examine the standard of the 1990s investigation and whether there were any issues of misconduct. A Detective Chief Inspector from the Cumbria force will undertake the review. This runs alongside the current police investigation, ‘Operation Tweed’, which is part of a wider investigation into residential schools across Cumbria, including Witherslack Hall School, a 90-room mansion on the edge of the Lake District.
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron has been calling for an independent review after he was approached by a former pupil. He said, ‘we must get to the truth about what happened at Underley Hall to make sure that victims receive justice, any perpetrators are held to account for their crimes and that children are protected in the future’.
We are currently seeking compensation for a number of victims of abuse at Witherslack Hall and Underley Hall School.
We are able to deal with sex abuse compensation claims on a No Win, No Fee basis and offer a free, confidential advice service.
You can read our update on the Underley Hall School sex abuse scandal here.