Boarding schools abuse: PM urged to step up historical probe

Campaigners Roy Messenger and Glenis Ansell left a letter at Downing Street complaining about a lack of progress

Campaigners have delivered a letter to Downing Street demanding a probe into claims of historical abuse at boarding schools is stepped up.

The allegations centre on Dowdeswell Court and Badgeworth Court schools in Gloucestershire and Clouds House in Wiltshire - all privately run.

Pupils allege they were subjected to "horrific" abuse during the 1970s and 1980s, a 2015 BBC investigation found.

Campaigner Glenis Ansell claims the police investigation has stalled.

She said: "The allegations that have been made have been very poorly investigated, and the people involved need help.

"We're asking the Prime Minister to add some pressure to the police forces in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to complete the inquiry so they don't keep delaying it."

More than 130 potential victims have been interviewed and 76 have made formal statements of complaints alleging abuse.

Badgeworth Court stopped operating as a boarding school in the 1980s

Several former teachers and members of staff have also been interviewed by Gloucestershire Police.

The men worked at Badgeworth Court and Dowdeswell Court near Cheltenham, and Clouds House near Salisbury.

Gloucestershire Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing, and said that evidence against seven suspects, including former teachers, in connection with 15 allegations of abuse will be put before the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to prosecution.