Edinburgh Council has published a report which identified ‘failings’ in the local authority’s handling of historical complaints against an employee who was subsequently charged with serious sexual offences.

The Inquiry was commissioned in October 2020 by chief executive Andrew Kerr following historical complaints about the behaviour of senior social worker, Sean Bell, who was found dead in August that year.

In her report, QC Susanne Tanner criticises council officers for not acting on complaints concerning Mr Bell’s alleged verbal, physical and sexual assaults, despite repeated disclosures from fellow employees and members of his family.

Evidence was also provided to the Inquiry describing Mr Bell’s behaviour as an ‘open secret’ among colleagues, despite which no action was taken. This allowed him to continue with his behaviour and to discredit those who made complaints against him.

Mr Bell was arrested and charged after a complaint was made in June 2020. He was reportedly found dead in Edinburgh last August after taking his own life.

The Inquiry Team did not find any evidence to suggest that Mr Bell’s actions were connected to his role as a social worker, or that his alleged offences were committed against any of his clients.

However, it did report that the council’s communication with survivors should have been better.

‘I want to start by offering my deepest sympathies to all the survivors of Sean Bell who suffered abuse at his hands over so many years, including those that came forward to speak to the independent inquiry and those that may not have felt able to do so,’ said chief executive Andrew Kerr.

‘This report lays bare the extent of his abuse and the terrible and long-lasting impact it had, and continues to have, on their lives. And, while it finds that he acted alone and that his actions were not connected to his role, this does not take away from the horrific nature of his actions.’

‘Regrettably, it is clear from the evidence gathered that senior officers of the council did not act on extremely serious disclosures by survivors, and others,’ Mr Kerr continued.

‘I want to thank the survivors and other participants for their courage in coming forward to give evidence to the Inquiry team. I can only imagine how traumatic that must have been for them.

‘Ms Tanner acknowledges the efficiency of council officers’ response after they became aware of the most recent disclosures, but I fully appreciate that the survivors will question why this didn’t happen years earlier.

‘We are grateful to Ms Tanner and the Pinsent Masons team who supported her Inquiry for their sensitive and forensic approach to their investigation.

‘Councillors will now carefully consider the findings outlined in the open report and how best to adopt its recommendations. We will do everything in our power to ensure this can never happen again.’

Photo: Martyn Gorman / Geograph