William Eichler 14 March 2025

Norfolk councils sued over alleged abuse in children’s home

Norfolk councils sued over alleged abuse in children’s home  image
Image: © Norfolk County Council.

Former residents of a children's home in Norfolk are taking legal action against the county council and other local authorities over allegations of historic physical and sexual abuse.

Local authorities sent hundreds of children to the Red House in Buxton from 1984 onwards until it was eventually closed by the Charity Commission in 1998.

Children staged a riot in 1989 to alert authorities to their treatment and the following year the Social Services Inspectorate identified allegations of sexual assault, physical abuse and gang rape, according to Sky News.

A report by Norfolk County Council in 1994 also raised concerns about abuse at the home.

A spokesperson for the county council said: ‘The allegations made by former pupils of the independent Small School at Red House are deeply concerning and we have cooperated fully with investigations, which relate to children that were placed there by other local authorities more than 30 years ago.

‘Our thoughts are with all survivors of abuse but as there is an ongoing legal claim we cannot comment further at this time.’

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