Council will spend up to £16million compensating victims of a child sex abuse scandal in care homes

A council is to spend millions of pounds to compensate victims of a child sex abuse scandal that Scotland Yard refused to investigate.

Islington Council in London expects to pay out £16 million to those abused by paedophiles in its care homes over almost three decades. As many as 2,000 victims could come forward.

Campaigners have welcomed the move but feel betrayed by the police, who, they say, allowed perverts to escape justice despite dozens of victims coming forward and a damning official report identifying suspects.

Islington Council in London expects to pay out millions to those abused by paedophiles in its care homes over almost three decades

They are particularly critical of Sue Akers, a retired Met Police deputy assistant commissioner in charge of child abuse investigations in Islington in 1995 when the report was published. 

Documents submitted to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse show how she rejected calls for a police probe, saying it would be ‘counterproductive’.

Ms Akers dismissed testimony from victims who came forward in the early 1990s and a report in 1995 by child protection expert Ian White, which named 26 men who should be banned from working with children.

Campaigners from the Islington Survivors Network claim all 12 of the council’s children’s homes were infiltrated by paedophiles, pimps and pornographers.

Campaigners are critical of Sue Akers, a retired Met Police deputy assistant commissioner in charge of child abuse investigations in Islington in 1995

Last night, Ms Akers, 65, who was awarded a CBE in 2013, said she did not recall rejecting the council’s request for an investigation, but added: ‘Historic abuse investigations are problematic from an evidence and resources point of view.’

Islington Council’s compensation scheme will pay £8,000 to anyone who suffered abuse while under its care.

Carmel Littleton, one of its corporate directors, said: ‘Abuse of children in Islington’s care homes was the worst chapter in the council’s history and we are deeply sorry for the past failure to protect vulnerable children.’