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An investigation into the handling of safeguarding concerns at a summer camp where children were given sweets containing tranquilizers and some were sexually abused has led to gross misconduct inquiries involving police officers and staff. Specifically, two officers from Leicestershire Police and three staff members are under investigation regarding their response to the initial concerns raised about the safety of children at Stathern Lodge.
The chain of events began on the evening of 27 July 2025 when Nottinghamshire Police received reports raising alarms about the wellbeing of children at the camp. This information was subsequently forwarded to Leicestershire Police. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since confirmed that it is pursuing investigations into the conduct of personnel from both police forces, scrutinizing how the information was handled and whether there were delays in acting on safeguarding issues.
The IOPC highlighted that Leicestershire Police officers and staff are being examined for allegedly failing to properly review the information passed on by their Nottinghamshire counterparts, delaying the safeguarding process. Meanwhile, the inquiry into Nottinghamshire Police staff members focuses on how the initial call was graded, how the risk was assessed, and whether shortcomings in these procedures contributed to any postponement in the police response.
Emily Barry, director of the IOPC, emphasized the gravity of the situation, acknowledging the distress caused to victims and their families. She explained that the investigation has extended to evaluate the responses of both forces concerning the serious allegations made about the children at the camp. The IOPC has collected relevant documentation, obtained witness statements, and gathered other evidence integral to the inquiry.
Former vet and summer camp leader Jon Ruben, aged 76 and from Nottinghamshire, was recently sentenced to over 23 years in prison after it was revealed in court that he exploited his position and “cloak of Christianity” to abuse vulnerable children. It was also disclosed that Ruben drugged his wife to prevent her from waking while the abuse occurred. Emotional scenes unfolded in Leicester Crown Court as several parents of the victims provided testimony, some angrily swearing at Ruben during sentencing.
Assistant Chief Constable James Avery of Leicestershire Police stated that the force remains focused on supporting the victims and their families throughout this process. He confirmed that the ongoing IOPC investigation is independent and that his force is cooperating fully. Nottinghamshire Police, represented by a spokesperson, noted that because the IOPC is leading the investigation, they are not able to comment further at this time.
The timeline of the investigation includes an internal review by Nottinghamshire Police, which initially did not trigger a referral to the IOPC. However, after reassessing the situation, Nottinghamshire Police were advised to submit a referral, which they did in November. This led to the commencement of a formal investigation into the police response by the IOPC in December
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