Seven arrested in police investigation into abuse in Devon care homes

Police working on an ongoing investigation into alleged abuse at a number of care homes in Devon have now arrested a total of seven people in relation to the enquiry.

The care homes under investigation are Teignmead in Teignbridge, Veilstone in Bideford and Gatooma in Holsworthy.

Those arrested are three people from Teignmouth (a man aged 67, a man aged 39 and a woman aged 26) and four people from Bideford (a 42-year-old man, a 38-year-old man and two women aged 24 and 28).

All seven were arrested in relation to offences under the Mental Health Act regarding ill treatment and abuse and were taken into police custody for questioning. All have been released on police bail until March while investigations continue.

The investigation is part of Operation Baddeck which is a multi agency safeguarding investigation involving Devon County Council, NHS Devon, Devon Partnership Trust, Devon and Cornwall Police, the Care Quality Commission and other Local Authorities and NHS services which began investigating all homes which came under the management of Atlas Project Team Ltd. The company is no longer in existence.

Detective Inspector Steve White said: “Throughout the investigation the safety, welfare and protection of vulnerable adults has been and remains the absolute priority of all the organisations involved. Due to the nature of the enquiry and complex needs of the victims. this investigation will take many months. Throughout this time the police will continue to work closely with all agencies involved and the victims and families of those affected will receive ongoing support.”