Operation Pallial: Over 200 victims come forward over alleged abuse

More than 200 people have come forward with information about alleged historical abuse at care homes in north Wales, police have said.

Operation Pallial, led by the National Crime Agency, was launched a year ago to look at allegations relating to 18 care homes between 1963 and 1992.

Since November 2012, 235 people have contacted police and 204 are willing to support the investigation.

Fourteen people have been arrested to date and one person has been charged.

The investigation is led by Keith Bristow, director general of the National Crime Agency, and supported by police forces across England, working alongside local authorities and charities.

More than 97% of complainants have been video interviewed by officers.

Operation Pallial has names, or part names, of around 100 alleged offenders - some of whom are dead - all subject to further investigation.

'Clear focus'

Ian Mulcahey, the senior investigating officer, said: "Operation Pallial is currently pursuing a large number of active lines of enquiry, working closely with police forces across the country and agencies and charities that provide support to victims of crime.

"Those who have come forward to report abuse in north Wales now live across England, Wales and Scotland, and many are receiving on-going support and counselling as we work hard to bring offenders to justice."

He said all alleged victims will be kept informed.

Chief crown prosecutor for CPS Wales Ed Beltrami said: "We are now very clear that the focus must be on the overall credibility of an allegation, rather than the perceived weakness of the person making it."

The majority of alleged victims are now aged between 40 and 50.