Vincent Chan

A PAEDOPHILE convicted of 56 offences against young children in a West Hampstead nursery was the subject of a serious safeguarding investigation three years before his crimes came to light – but was allowed to keep working despite his behaviour being flagged up to both the nursery and Camden Council.

Vincent Chan, 45, was jailed for a minimum of 18 years in February after pleading guilty to abusing children in his care at the Bright Horizons nursery on Finchley Road.

But it has now emerged that before he was caught, Chan had been investigated by the nursery after complaints by the parents of a young girl.

Camden Council oversaw the investigation but did not inform police.

Chan was allowed to continue in his role.

The families whose children were victims of Chan’s crimes have spoken of their shock on discovering he was allowed to stay in post – and are calling for an independent investigation into the revelations.

In a statement from solicitors Leigh Day, they have demanded answers to questions that include:

. Who knew what Chan was accused of doing?
. When they were informed?
. Why the police were not contacted?
. What independent oversight took place?
. And how was Chan allowed to return to work with children.

The statement added: “We are devastated and angry to learn that concerns about Vincent Chan were raised years before he was finally stopped.

“We feel betrayed by Bright Horizons, Camden Council and all those involved in the decisions that allowed him to continue working with children.

“This was not simply a hidden danger that nobody could have known about. Concerns had been raised and there was an opportunity to intervene. If they had been properly escalated, independently examined and acted upon, he could have been stopped sooner and many of his crimes prevented.

“These revelations raise serious questions about the account Bright Horizons has previously given and whether it disclosed the full history of concerns about Chan and the 2021 investigation.”

This summer, an Ofsted inspector served a notice on the nursery group known as a Welfare Requirements Notice, which demands urgent action after identifying weaknesses in safeguarding leadership, governance, oversight and practice.

The statement continued: “How was Vincent Chan deemed safe to return to caring for young children?
“Expressions of regret are meaningless. Families deserve the truth, accountability for decisions made, and action to make sure this cannot happen again.”

An investigation known as a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review is currently underway.

The findings are expected to be published next year. But families say they are deeply concerned that the Town Hall – who failed to act in 2021 – is involved in overseeing the review of what happened.

Leigh Day partner Alison Millar, who is working for the families, added: “It feels like asking the people whose decisions are under scrutiny to mark their own homework.

“We need independent scrutiny now.”

Ms Millar called for the setting up of a nationwide system for concerns to be reported, logged and acted on, the installation of CCTV in nurseries and new laws over phones, cameras and digital devices being used in school settings.

The families have called on the government to fast-track new rules without the need for fresh legislation.

They added: “There is no greater responsibility than protecting our children. We cannot undo the harm caused, but we can make sure the failures are never repeated.

“Protecting children from failures like these is an urgent national issue. The Government must solve it now.”

Leigh Day are taking legal action against Bright Horizons. Ms Millar added: “We have been concerned from the beginning that Chan’s abuse may have been wider than the appalling crimes of which he was convicted.

“There were significant pre-existing concerns about him and an opportunity to intervene.

“Our clients have to live with the continuing uncertainty as to what their children may have experienced or witnessed.”

They said the latest revelations strengthened their case for criminal investigation into the nursery’s actions and a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review will not hold Bright Horizons to account in the same way a criminal case could.

A Town Hall spokesman said: “We know the parents of the children who attended the nursery, and the wider public, will be concerned that a complaint was made about Vincent Chan to Bright Horizons in 2021 – and will want to know how this was responded to.

“In 2021, Camden Council’s Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) provided advice to Bright Horizons, after Bright Horizons informed them (the LADO) of a complaint. We have shared all relevant documents and information with the independent review team.

“We want families to get the answers they deserve, in full, through the outcome of the independent review.

“We are ready to receive the review’s recommendations once it is published and take action. In the meantime, we are committed to making continual improvements to safeguarding. We are determined to make a real and tangible impact on national safeguarding arrangements for the future.”

A spokesman for Bright Horizons added that they could not comment directly on the Town Hall’s safeguarding policies while a review was underway, but said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims of Chan’s shocking crimes and their families. We will respond as soon as we are able, once we have received the committee’s response.”