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Shock at more than 100 sex crimes in care homes

Allegations of rape doubled from two cases recorded in both 2013 and 2014 to four complaints last year
Allegations of rape doubled from two cases recorded in both 2013 and 2014 to four complaints last year Allegations of rape doubled from two cases recorded in both 2013 and 2014 to four complaints last year

MORE than 100 sex offences at care homes have been reported to the PSNI in past three years, including cases of rape.

Campaigners for the elderly last night described the figures as "shocking" and said they feared the true extent of abuse could even be worse.

Police received 80 reports of sexual assaults at care homes, nursing homes and retirement complexes over the three-year period.

Reports of rape doubled from two cases in both 2013 and 2014 to four complaints last year.

There were also 13 allegations of other sexual offences.

Responding to a freedom of information request, the PSNI said the care homes where some offences were reported may not exclusively cater for elderly people.

It added that some of the offences may have happened outside or within the vicinity, such as in a car park.

But Paschal McKeown of Age NI warned that the real figure could be significantly higher.

"Age NI is appalled that older people in any setting should experience abuse or be a victim of any crime, including sexual crimes," she said.

"Each older person has the right to live in safety and free from harm, confident that they will be listened to and that all crimes will be fully investigated and perpetrators brought to justice.

"We are concerned that, while shocking, these figures may be an under-reporting of the situation and we'd urge the services involved with older people to do all that they can to identify and prevent the risk of such horrendous incidents from happening in the first place."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said it takes a "zero tolerance approach to the abuse of all vulnerable people and is committed to ensuring that anyone living in residential or nursing care facilities lives safely and with a high standard of care".

"For this reason, such facilities are subject to a rigorous regulatory framework which requires residents to be protected from all forms of abuse and for written policies and procedures on safeguarding to be in place."

It said compliance is regularly inspected and "robust joint protocols" are in place to investigate abuse.