Video: Protesters gather over alleged child abuse by Calderdale Council employees

Protesters are gathering outside Northgate House today (Friday) and said they want the Council to acknowledge liability for the alleged crimes committed against vulnerable children within care.

Organisers said the whilst the alleged events in question are historic, the effects stay with the survivor for the rest of their lives and Calderdale survivors deserve justice.

Calderdale Council’s Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Stuart Smith, said: “Today’s demonstration is about historic cases of child abuse relating to Skircoat Lodge in the 1980s and 1990s, which, after a Police investigation led to a number of prosecutions and convictions.

“We fully supported the investigation at the time. This was an appalling case and we regret that children suffered when they were in the care of the local authority.

“I would like to reassure people that nobody involved in the historic cases works for the Council, and in the intervening years our safeguarding practices have changed beyond recognition.

“As you’d expect, we check the details of all our staff thoroughly before they are employed by the Council, so we can be confident that our children are only ever placed in the care of people we can trust.”