Exclusive: Lambeth council to face legal action over failure to ‘fairly’ compensate child sexual abuse victims

Lambeth council has been accused of forcing victims of one of England’s worst child abuse scandals to accept ‘unfair’ compensation payments.

The claims have been made by the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (SOSA), which works with victims of the sexual abuse that took place in Lambeth council’s children’s homes between the 1950s and 1980s.

According to the council, 2,240 victims have received more than £100million as part of Lambeth’s £144million redress scheme, which closed in January 2022.

But founder of SOSA Dr Raymond Stevenson, 60, from Brixton, has accused the council of forcing about 150 people into accepting offers. He said SOSA will be mounting a legal claim against the council on behalf of these victims.

He said: “Throughout the redress process, 26 people attempted to commit suicide and one did. 

“Lambeth can say 94 per cent accepted their compensation, this does not mean 94 per cent are happy with what they’ve got.”

Six per cent of the applications remain outstanding. The council are currently writing to victims who have not accepted or appealed their compensation offers to notify them that their application will be closed down if they do not respond.

Dennis Enouch, 72, from South Norwood, said Lambeth closed his case because he did not respond to a letter.

Mr Enouch, who is blind, lived in Shirley Oaks for nine years in the 1950’s, where he was subject to physical abuse by staff.

He said: “They would stick my head down a toilet, hit me and kick me.

“It caused severe stress that I still live with.

“When I found out about the scheme I reached out to Lambeth, they told me my case had been closed because I didn’t fill out a form they sent me. I’m blind – how was I supposed to see, let alone fill out a form ?”

Mr Enouch said his sister and brother have received their compensation from Lambeth but the council’s lawyers have refused to reopen his case.

He said: “It’s not about the money, it’s the principal. Lambeth let me down and they’re still letting me down.”

Other victims claim that Lambeth council threatened to shut down their cases if they did not accept the compensation offered.

A  woman, 60, who asked not to be named, grew up in Shirley Oaks with her five siblings who all suffered sexual, physical and racial abuse.

She claims that Lambeth threatened to pull her out of the redress scheme if she did not accept the compensation offer. When she refused, they transferred the money into her account without her permission, she said.

The council – which has an independent Appeal Panel for survivors who want to challenge their payment – said there is “no evidence” of Lambeth making “low offers” of compensation.

Mr Stephenson said: “We have a significant number of victims who have been preparing to take legal action against the council for the last few years.”

Human Rights Lawyer Imran Khan KC has been working with SOSA regarding the legal claims against Lambeth.

Speaking to the South London Press, he said: “Lambeth have taken a guillotine approach.

“Victims want closure but feel like they have no other option but to accept compensation that is less than they deserve.

“It’s like a double punishment.”

Mr Khan said it was “disingenuous” for Lambeth to describe the redress scheme a success and said he will be representing victims in their claim against the council.

He said: “Morally, I don’t understand why a local authority has let it get to this point.”

A Lambeth council spokesperson said: “We make a sincere and heartfelt apology to all victims and survivors of abuse and neglect while in Lambeth’s care in the borough’s former children’s homes which were open from the 1930s to the 1980s and 1990s.

“The Redress Scheme was set up to avoid re-traumatising survivors by offering an alternative to going through the courts, which is the usual route for compensation claims. It’s fairer, simpler and quicker ensuring survivors get the most possible compensation. However, it does not preclude survivors also applying to court.”

Pictured top: Shirley Oaks (Picture: SOSA)