Compensation considered for 'children's prison' alleged abuse victims

Wednesday 29 August 2018

Compensation for over 100 former residents of a 'secure school' where children were allegedly beaten, kept from seeing their families and placed in solitary confinement for weeks at a time is being considered, States officials have confirmed.

The announcement came following calls from UK lawyer Alan Collins, who threatened to bring legal action against the States of Jersey if they failed to issue an apology and a compensation scheme to those that had spent time at Les Chênes by 30 September.

Opened in 1979 and running until the 2000s, Les Chênes was supposed to be a residential home for children with a remand function. However, but the Care Inquiry report noted that all residents – whether young offenders or not – were “in effect, serving sentences” there.

The report detailed a “harsh” regime for the children, involving arduous daily chores to be completed in exchange for points to be able to visit their families on the weekend or take part in activities.

This, according to the Inquiry, was emotionally abusive, but some residents alleged that they were also subjected to physical abuse. 

Pictured: The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry concluded that the former secure school staff had used "excessive force" against children.

One former occupant who stayed there in the 80s claimed that they were physically abused by staff, including the manager. They told the Inquiry that when they threatened to report it, a staff member replied: “Whatever happened in these four walls stayed there.”

Another child was allegedly they beaten “black and blue” after their parents raised concerns. “That is what happened if you dare to speak out,” the Inquiry heard.

The alleged abuse apparently continued into the 2000s. One child said they viewed another being held by the neck against the wall by a staff member in 2001, while another who was resident between 2001 and 2003 was said to have been put in a headlock by staff.

In 2004, another child complained of being left in a ‘secure unit’ – an empty room with a mattress and no toilet – for up to nine months. 

Pictured: One child had allegedly been beaten "black and blue" by staff.

While some of this was reported to authorities, the Inquiry found that many of the children were either not believed or had their concerns dismissed because Les Chênes was viewed as a ‘children’s prison’. It meant that Police investigations into allegations of assault in the early 2000s resulted in a perception that staff actions were “reasonable force” against challenging children. Indeed, a former Chair of Governors at Les Chênes once described them as “little villains”. 

The Inquiry, which published its findings last July, concluded that the ‘school’ had employed “legally dubious methods of managing pupils”, including “excessive use of force.”

Following those findings, Mr Collins would like to see redress for the alleged victims of Les Chênes – of which he says there are over 100.

A Historic Abuse Redress Scheme was set up by the States for those that suffered physical and sexual abuse in full-time residential care, but it closed to new claims in September 2012. Mr Collins made claims after the Care Inquiry report in July 2017, however, which the States have now confirmed they are “considering.”

Pictured: UK lawyer Alan Collins, who is leading calls for compensation for Les Chênes' former residents.

They commented: “Following the publication of the Care Inquiry report in 2017, Alan Collins submitted claims to the redress scheme lawyers on behalf of a number of clients.

“The previous Council of Ministers was briefed on the grounds for these claims and asked officers to start work on considering appropriate redress.

“Officers are working on this with lawyers, and later this year the new Council of Ministers is expected to consider redress for those not covered by the previous scheme.”

Mr Collins has set a deadline for an official response from the States by 30 September. If he does not receive one, he has warned that this could result in a civil claim by the former residents.