Investigation into abuse at Doncaster children's homes closed

A five-year police investigation into the "systemic" abuse of children with learning disabilities has been closed without any staff being charged or arrested. Children were punched, kicked in the stomach and locked outside naked in winter at homes run by Hesley Group in Doncaster between 2018 and 2021. But the BBC has learned no full file of evidence was ever submitted to prosecutors, nor request made of them to make charging decisions. South Yorkshire Police said the evidential threshold had not been met for prosecution in what it described as "an incredibly complex case". The force declined to respond to questions over whether any staff accused of harming children had subsequently been accused of abusing other vulnerable people. More than 100 children were harmed between 2018 and 2021 at three children's homes in Doncaster, which were rated "good" by Ofsted throughout. Scores of vulnerable children lived and were educated in the homes - many of whom had disabilities and were non-verbal and living far away from home. A national panel found the abuse was "systemic and sustained" and BBC investigations revealed the appalling mistreatment suffered by some of the most vulnerable child