Seven charged over alleged imprisonment and ill-treatment of Devon care home patients

Seven people have been charged over the alleged imprisonment and ill-treatment of patients with learning difficulties in three Devon care homes.

Devon and Cornwall police said that the seven had been arrested in connection with abuse they believe took place between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2011. The accused are aged between 25 and 68, and were working in homes run by Atlas Project Team.

The charges relate to the treatment of eleven vulnerable residents living in Veilstone, Gatooma and Teignmead care homes. All three homes were closed in 2012.

The seven men and women have all been bailed and will appear at Exeter Magistrates Court on 28 October 2014.

A spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall police said: “Throughout this investigation the safety, welfare and protection of vulnerable adults has been and remains a priority for all the organisations involved. A multi-agency team is working to support the victims and their families to ensure they receive the appropriate levels support leading up to and throughout any future judicial proceedings. This support involves Devon County Council, NHS Devon, Devon Partnership Trust, Devon and Cornwall Police, the Care Quality Commission and other Local Authorities and NHS services.

“Devon and Cornwall Police have been and continue to work with a number of agencies in Devon including Adult Social Care Services and the Local Safeguarding Adults Board to prevent, and where appropriate to thoroughly investigate, reported incidents of this nature. The priority in all of these cases is to ensure that those involved are effectively safeguarded.”