‘They are still lying’: Lambeth accused of hiding evidence related to major child abuse cover up

Lambeth council has been accused of hiding evidence related to their involvement and alleged cover-up of one of England’s worst child abuse scandals.

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. 

The allegations relate to a Lambeth social worker, Charlie Elliot, who died in 1999.

Husna Talukdar, 60, who has waived her anonymity to speak with the South London Press, was abused in Shirley Oaks in the 1970s.

She said: “Soon after my arrival I was subjected to psychological abuse – I was made to eat pork which was against my Islamic background.

“My foster father, Peter, would force feed me and I would vomit, then he would make me eat my vomit.”

Ms Talukdar said the psychological abuse quickly became “more sinister”. She was only 10 years old at the time.

She said: “He would rape me, beat me and racially abuse me.

“I felt trapped and traumatised. 

“Then I met Charlie, my social worker. He had this presence I felt like I could trust.”

Ms Talukdar said she told Mr Elliot about the abuse.

She said: “He told me that if he made it stop I wasn’t allowed to talk about it.

“He said he would be in control. Then he became my rapist.”

Ms Talukdar went to the police in the late 70s, after years of abuse from her foster father and Mr Elliot, as well as witnessing other children in the home being abused.

She said: “I remember sitting in the police station with my legs swinging – they didn’t even reach the floor yet.

“Then Charlie walked in. He spoke to the police and took me away in his car.”

In 2017, Ms Talukdar told SOSA that Mr Elliot sexually abused her as a child. 

SOSA asked Lambeth for information regarding Mr Elliot’s involvement in the abuse, but the council claimed it had no information on the former social worker.

But, in 2019 – during a separate investigation – Lambeth council provided a SOSA lawyer with a document from 1996, which shows multiple children at the Sandyridge care home disclosed abuse to Mr Elliot, but he took no action.

The confidential briefing paper shows concerns were “strongly expressed” that he was “blocking the investigation”.

The document also reveals that Mr Elliot played an integral role within the paedophile ring, bringing children to abusive foster parents.

SOSA’s founder, Dr Raymond Stevenson, 60, of Brixton, said: “It was only after we told them we had a copy that they admitted it, but said it ‘wasn’t relevant’.”

Dr Stevenson said a former Lambeth staff member who knew Mr Elliot has since approached SOSA with information that he was also involved in an investigation into the South Vale care home.

He said: “This is about a cover-up of three separate care homes.

“If Lambeth chose to withhold such vital information in the original investigation it strongly suggests there is more they are hiding.”

A spokesman said Lambeth council “denies withholding any documents as part of the redress process”.

But, Dr Stephenson said the recent information about Mr Elliot has had serious ramifications for previous court hearings and investigations into the abuse.

Ms Talukdar said: “They are still lying and it is creating new trauma for us. So many victims have died but many are still alive and we all deserve justice.”

A Lambeth council spokesman said: “Lambeth makes a sincere and heartfelt apology to all victims and survivors of abuse and neglect while in Lambeth’s care.

“Over £100million in compensation has been paid to more than 2,000 victims and survivors of abuse who applied to the Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme which was open from 2018 to 2022. Counselling services set up under the scheme remain open and are available on an ongoing basis.

“The council worked with the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which included a ‘Children in the care of Lambeth Council’ investigation. The council shared more than 300,000 pages of historical documents.

“Some of these documents came to light for the first time in this preparation and were not previously uncovered as part of individuals’ case files. 

“The council of today is sadly unable to say why actions were not taken in the past, but we have endeavoured to uncover and share as much as possible.”

Pictured top: Husna Talukdar as a child before attending Shirley Oaks (Picture: Husna Talukdar)