By Laura Moulden
Two men have been arrested by police investigating suspected sexual offences at a care home in Richmond during the 1980s.
The Metropolitan Police today (February 6th) announced that a 66-year-old from Norfolk and a 70-year-old from East Sussex were taken into custody as part of Operation Fernbridge.
Head of the force’s Specialist Crime Investigations unit Commander Peter Spindler spoke about the depth of the investigation and appealed to anyone with information on the matter to get in touch.
“This is a complex multi-agency investigation supported by the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) and Richmond Social Services involving non-recent allegations of sexual assault against children,” he said.
Commander Spindler went on to reveal that the force is looking into alleged abuse during the early 1980s at Elm Guest House and the Grafton Close care home in Barnes.
The investigation was prompted when information was passed to police by MP Tom Watson, who claimed that “clear intelligence” of a sex abuse gang was contained within evidence used in the conviction of Peter Righton, in regard to importing indecent images of children in 1992.
Police made it clear that the allegations are not connected to the current residents at the addresses, which are now flats.
Members of the public with information relevant to the investigation can get in touch with their local police or via the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.