Claims of abuse at college in 1970s and 1980s

An external investigation has been launched into claims of historical abuse at a college in Guernsey.

Elizabeth College said in recent months it had been "contacted about a number of disclosures of alleged abuse concerning the experiences of former pupils in the 1970s and 1980s".

An "independent, expert-led review into disclosures of non-recent abuse" has been commissioned with the aim to "ensure that anyone impacted has an independent process through which to disclose their experiences", the college said in a statement.

It added it takes "safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously" and Guernsey Police said it had been liaising with the college.

The force said it was first notified about these plans in March and since then officers "have been liaising with representatives from Elizabeth College to ensure that any reports or evidence of criminal offences are properly referred on to the police".

It continued: "We made safeguarding colleagues in supporting agencies such as Health & Social Care and Education aware to ensure that a full multi-agency response can be activated if evidence of criminal offences is found.

"At this stage, no new formal complaints have been received by Guernsey Police in relation to these recent disclosures."

Anyone with immediate concerns around child safeguarding in Guernsey or Alderney should contact the Multi Agency Support Hub, the police said.

The college has appointed Joanna Nicolas to lead the review.

It said she has more than 30 years of experience working in the fields of safeguarding and child protection.

John Roche, chair of the board of governors, said: "The college takes its duty to safeguard its pupils extremely seriously and the welfare of the child will always be paramount, which is why the college has commissioned this review.

"Safeguarding practice has evolved and improved significantly over recent decades, but nonetheless it is important that we understand and learn from our past."

He said the approach would provide a "confidential channel through which anyone negatively impacted by their experiences can be listened to and heard".

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