15 more care staff are charged with offences including false imprisonment and ill treatment of vulnerable people with a learning disability: charities call for tough action.
The new charges follow the 7 care staff charged earlier this month, who were identified as senior managers of Atlas Project Team Limited in court today.
Devon & Cornwall Police have today charged 15 people with offences including false imprisonment and ill treatment.
Today’s arrests follow on from the 7thOctober when seven people were charged with conspiracy tofalselyimprison and conspiracy to ill-treat vulnerable adults residing in theircarehomes. It was also announced today that the seven who were arrested on the 7th of October were senior managers of Atlas Project Team Limited.
All of the charges relate to allegations surrounding the treatment of eleven residents at three care homes run by Atlas Project Team Limited (Veilstone, Gatooma and Teignmead) in Devon betweenthe1st January 2010 and the31st December 2011.
Jan Tregelles, chief executive ofthe Royal Mencap Society and Vivien Cooper, chief executive of the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, say:
“We want to see a full and thorough investigation into these serious allegations. Anyone responsible for the abuse of people with a learning disability must be properly held to account.
“These further charges are deeply concerning as they show the extent of the shocking allegations across a number of services run by theAtlasProject Team Limited.
“We must send a clear message that abuse and neglect will not be tolerated in our society and that anyone involved – from front line staff to the board room – will be held to account. Questions must also be asked about the role of commissioners and the care regulator (CQC).”
Link to Devon and Cornwall Police press statement:
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For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact the Mencap PR Team, on 020 7696 6950
About Mencap
There are 1.4 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability, their families and carers by fighting to change laws, improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
For advice and information about learning disability and Mencap services in your area, contact Mencap Direct on 0808 808 1111 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) or
About The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation provides information, support and training around challenging behaviour associated with severe learning disabilities, and leads the ‘Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group’ which seeks to influence policy and practice nationally on behalf of individuals who challenge and their families.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation was founded in 1997 by Vivien Cooper, parent of a son with severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging. Today the Challenging Behaviour Foundation is in regular contact with over 5000 families and professionals across the UK. There are an estimated 30,000 individuals in England with severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging.