Scouts UK Continues to Settle Sexual Abuse Claims, Paying Out Over £6 Million While Accusations of Victim Silencing are ongoing

Victims Claim They Were Silenced

Both survivors claim they had repeatedly asked the Scouts to tell the former and current members about their allegations, but their incident wasn’t pushed forward for investigation. One of the women felt there was a “systematic attempt to silence us and get us to drop it” which made the women feel “small”. The second victim also stated: “It just feels like they're protecting him, or his reputation." Both women speak of how they were unable to receive the support they needed, as sadly their voices weren’t heard.

One of the survivors actually went on to confront Perks about the abuse, but he later was stated to have “denied it all”, and appeared to be unphased.

Scouts Stated to be Conducting Internal Investigations 

A Scouts Spokesman spoke to Sky News and stated that they are taking the information the women have given them very seriously. The Scouts have explained their “number one priority” is to keep young people safe in their care, and have insisted that the appropriate action will be taken if issues are raised against members. They have pledged to work with statutory agencies to share relevant information where they can, ensuring that their organisation is appropriately following safeguarding procedures.

The Scouts’ safeguarding policy is to protect the welfare of all children, young people and adults, and to safeguard them from neglect and from physical, sexual and emotional harm. The safeguarding policy offers guidance on how to report safeguarding allegations.

The two women are now pursuing a civil claim against the Scouts to help them gain a sense of justice, in the hope that children are better protected in the organisation in the future – and they join several others who are pursuing claims against the Scouts UK organisation.

Current Claims Against Scouts UK

As of June 2023, BBC File on 4 had contacted 13 law firms who specialise in child abuse claims.The data they have obtained shows over £6 million in compensation has been paid out in just 10 years relating to Scouts UK. From the data that was provided to the BBC, over 260 claims were taken on against Scouts UK, and 166 were settled, but the Yours In Scouting survivor website indicates there may be more claims brought against Scouts UK in the future.

Why is it Important to Report Sexual Abuse to the Police?

Coming forward and reporting any physical or sexual abuse you have experienced can be a difficult decision to make.

If you have experienced abuse in the Scouts or any other club or organisation as a child, we would advise you to report it to the police, no matter how long ago the abuse took place. While Scouts and other organisations have strict codes of practice and safeguarding policies in place, reporting abuse to the police will mean that your claims will be investigated independently and impartially.

Once reported, the police can then begin the criminal prosecution process and thoroughly investigate your case. If there is enough evidence, the police can then bring the perpetrator to justice so that they can receive a conviction for their crimes.

During the prosecution process, you will be offered support from the Child Protection Unit or Public Protection Unit.

The police will also provide you with access to Victim Support, which is a dedicated team who offer support and counselling in a safe environment.

How We Can Help if you’ve Experienced Abuse

Our specialist Abuse Law team are currently helping a number of sexual abuse survivors make a claim for compensation against perpetrators of abuse, or the organisation they worked within. Our solicitors are experts who understand this area of law and can make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible for you.

If you experienced abuse in childhood, we could help you take legal action so you can gain a sense of justice and closure. When you feel ready to talk, we’re here to listen – you can get in touch with our team for a confidential conversation to see how we could help. We’re proud partners of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), who have a free support line for survivors of childhood abuse. We know it is difficult to reach out and discuss these crimes, but rest assured, we’re here, and we are ready to listen and advise you on whether we can help.

Call our team today on: 0808 239 1287.