Ex-copper who jailed Stephen Lawrence's killers investigates 'neglect' in care homes

The police detective who sent two of Stephen Lawrence’s killers to jail, has come out of retirement to help families investigate deaths and injuries in care homes.

Former Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll has agreed to help families get justice, following the death of 13 residents at care homes run by Sussex Health Care and 19 deaths in 2010 at Orchid View Care home in Copthorne, run by the defunct Southern Cross.

Murdered teenager Steven Lawrence was stabbed to death in Eltham in 1993, after he was attacked by five men shouting racist abuse and DCI Driscoll secured convictions for two of the youths responsible. The ex-detective is now keen to fight for answers for families of those in care homes, who have formed a new campaign group called the Harmed in Adult Care Alliance (HACA).

Mr Driscoll has said he wants the police to reopen an investigation into two disabled care home residents, who suffered broken legs while living at Horsham’s Beech Lodge care home in 2015.

The ex-detective told the Press Association: “On the face of the evidence I have seen there appears to be real concerns about the standard of care. The families do not believe they had a fair and independent investigation and it appears the police have not convinced them this has happened.”

Meanwhile on 7 December, Sussex Police confirmed that its ongoing investigation into Sussex Health Care and 13 deaths at its homes, has led to 10 people being interviewed so far by police, under caution. This follows initial safeguarding concerns raised for 43 residents at nine of its care homes.

Orchid View care home operated by Southern Cross, was shutdown in 2011, but the deaths of 19 residents at Orchid View led a coroner to conclude that all 19 had suffered "sub-optimal" care and five deaths "had been contributed to by neglect". The coroner also criticised CQC for failing to identify failures at the home, before a CQC inspection in September 2011.

The campaign group HACA, in a statement on its website, said: “ Too many vulnerable people have suffered injuries, neglect and even death in care homes in West Sussex. Families have felt let down time and again by the agencies that are there to protect the vulnerable, namely Local Authorities, care home owners, police and even the regulators.

“Angry at the continuing injustice and abuse of human rights suffered by vulnerable people, families have come together in an Alliance to record and help fight abuse, influence official bodies to change their culture, provide effective help forum for families - when care hurts.

“We acknowledge that there are many excellent and dedicated staff and well-run care homes in West Sussex, sadly this is not, and has not been the case throughout the county.”