The Met Police's failure to investigate historic child abuse in Islington could lead to vigilante attacks on abusers, a former council whistleblower has warned. 

A support group for survivors has received intelligence on paedophiles who are still alive and may pose a continuing risk, but says it is struggling to report the information to police. 

Dr Liz Davies founded the Islington Survivors Network (ISN) and has helped compile more than 130 applications to a council "support payment scheme". 

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But she said those trying to report their abuse wanted to see the culprits face justice but were being obstructed by bureaucracy. 

"It will get to a point where if nobody does anything, there are a lot of ex-prisoners in ISN who would stop at nothing," she said.  

"I don't want that to happen. That's not how it should be." 

No police liaison 

Dr Davies blew the whistle on widespread abuse in Islington's children's homes in the early 1990s, while working as a social worker. 

Now an emeritus professor at the London Metropolitan University, she uses her office to help people apply to the council's payment scheme for victims. 

The Gazette reported last week that intelligence was "pouring out", with multiple complainants describing similar abuse by the same perpetrators. 

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Islington Gazette: The former Grosvenor Avenue children's home in Highbury is one of many where abuse reportedly occurredThe former Grosvenor Avenue children's home in Highbury is one of many where abuse reportedly occurred (Image: Ken Mears)

But, said Dr Davies, her repeated calls for a designated liaison officer to act on the intelligence have gone unheeded. 

She is supported by Islington Council. 

"We strongly support the Met having a single point of contact for abuse allegations relating to Islington's children's homes and we are writing to the borough commander in support of this," a spokesperson said. 

"We strongly expect the Metropolitan Police to fully investigate any new allegations of abuse and to allocate appropriate resources to investigate." 

Trouble reporting 

"We currently have no police to be in contact with on this at all," said Dr Davies. 

"Since ISN started, we've been put with five different police teams and they've all folded up. We were tossed around." 

She said the latest advice from police had been to call 101 or go to a police station. 

But, she claimed, "I tested 101 with some referrals and it was hopeless. 

"One went to Islington police station and got the same response - that they didn't have anybody to take a statement. 

"He was devastated as he had taken ages to get the courage to report this crime. 

"He then rang the Islington child protection team. He phoned from my room here and I heard it." 

Dr Davies said the officer simply replied by expressing his annoyance that he had been contacted directly and asked where the complainant had got his details. 

"We had been given his name by the former team that had just closed down," said Dr Davies. 

But in light of the officer's response, the complainant decided not to engage with the police any further. 

Islington Gazette: Dr Liz Davies, an emeritus professor of social work at London Metropolitan University, said she had listened as victims attempted to report their abuse to police by telephone from her officeDr Liz Davies, an emeritus professor of social work at London Metropolitan University, said she had listened as victims attempted to report their abuse to police by telephone from her office (Image: Ken Mears)

Abusers are still alive 

"When the payment scheme started, I was well aware that everybody's statements would be naming abusers, because that's part of the scheme," said Dr Davies. 

The 16-page form applicants are asked to fill out includes a section asking for the names of any abusers. 

Dr Davies said her own research had shown some of the abusers being named were still alive and traceable. 

"We need a liaison officer to have strategy meetings on current risk to children that may be posed," she said. "It's basic child protection procedure." 

The Met did not respond to Dr Davies and Islington Council's request for a dedicated liaison officer. 

It said complainants should call 101 or report their abuse online. 

"Your information will be passed to a specialist team who will work with you and support you" the force said. 

"You will then receive a single point of contact throughout the investigation. 

"We take all reports of abuse, recent or non-recent, extremely seriously. 

"Specially trained officers will support victim-survivors and we will work to seek justice for them wherever possible." 

  • ISN can be reached on 0300 302 0930 or by emailing islingtonsn@gmail.com.