QC to review Knowl View abuse

Andrew Warnock QC to review Knowl View abuse allegations

Rochdale Borough Council has instructed a QC to review allegations about abuse said to have occured at Knowl View School, Rochdale, which closed in 1995.

Andrew Warnock QC will conduct an independent review of all council decision making relating to the Knowl View case, from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s.

Council Leader Colin Lambert said: “The Council is aware that a number of allegations have been made with regards to alleged abuse at both Knowl View School in the 1980s and 1990s and Cambridge House in the 1960s.

"It is important for me as Leader of the Council to be able to reassure members of the public that we are treating this matter seriously and to ensure that no stone is left unturned.

"Detailed and thorough investigations into these historic matters are being conducted internally by the Council and by the Police. The Council has and continues to co-operate with the Police fully and openly and will support the Police if any prosecutions are ultimately brought.

"Anyone with any new information should contact Greater Manchester Police.”

A spokesman for Rochdale Borough Council said: "Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council has been made aware of alleged abuse that is said to have occurred at Knowl View School, which closed in 1995 and also at Cambridge House Hostel for Boys which closed in 1965. It should be noted that Cambridge House was not operated by Rochdale Council.

"An investigation into these matters is currently being undertaken internally by the Council and also by the Police. As public comment may prejudice any on going investigations we are unable to comment further at this time.”

David Higgins was convicted of abusing boys there in 1971.

Rochdale Council was warned in 1991, in a report written by an AIDS specialist from Rochdale Health Authority, of "sexual activity" at the school that most people, including parents of boys at the school, "would be horrified were these facts to be made known".

The report about the school, that Cyril Smith helped to establish, went to the then directors of education and social services at Rochdale Council. 

Martin Digan, a care worker at Knowl View, tried to blow the whistle about the abuse. He had just become acting head of care at the residential school for boys with learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

Mr Digan said he had often complained that Smith kept using his own set of keys to access the school.

Last year, the Crown Prosecution Service admitted Smith should have been prosecuted for abusing young boys in the 1960s.

It was alleged he raped boys at Knowl View and abused boys at Cambridge House Children's Home.

He had a long association with Knowl View where he was on the board of management when he was a councillor. 

Smith was originally a Labour councillor in Rochdale and later a Liberal then Liberal Democrat MP for the town from 1972 to 1992. He died in 2010 aged 82.

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