Police are calling it a ‘critical incident’ due to the historic abuse at the Kerelaw school

An investigation into alleged historical abuse at a former residential school has been declared a “critical incident” by Police Scotland.

Operation Chalk is investigating claims of physical and sexual abuse at Kerelaw School between the 1970s and 2000s.

Police confirmed the operation was classified as critical earlier this year “due to the resource requirements and complexity of the investigation”.

Ten people have been arrested this year in connection with alleged abuse at the Ayrshire school, which closed in 2006.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said officers have been investigating since new allegations were reported in 2015.

He said: “As the investigation continues, additional specialist resources have been invested to ensure the best possible outcome for the victims in this case.

“A number of further arrests have been made in recent months in connection with this investigation and we continue to work with the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service.”

The council-run Kerelaw opened in 1970 and operated as a residential unit for boys before becoming mixed. A mixed-sex secure unit was added in 1983.

The Stevenston site targeted young people with complex behavioral, emotional and psychological needs – some of whom were involved in petty crime or substance use.

The main school closed in 2004, but the secure section remained open until 2006.

Police Scotland may classify an incident as critical where “the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and/or the community”.

The power Critical Incident Management Guide was published following a freedom of information request in 2021.

The guidelines state that “major incidents” such as rapes and murders can sometimes be considered “critical” due to the number of victims and media interest.

It adds: “However, critical incidents may involve few people, have few or no casualties and may well be a single agency response.

“Therefore, a critical incident will not necessarily be categorized as a major incident.”

A police spokeswoman said the Kerelaw case had been declared critical due to “the length of time the investigation has been ongoing and the impact this may have on the victims and the community”.

Last January, former teacher Matt George and healthcare worker John Muldoon were imprisoned for a total of 28 years for physical and sexual abuse of children in Kerelaw between the 1970s and 2000.

It was the second time the pair were convicted of assault at the school.

Earlier this month, Police Scotland confirmed that ten new arrests had been made in connection with allegations of abuse at the school.

The force confirmed that seven men and three women – aged between 52 and 77 – were questioned about the treatment of young people there.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service later confirmed it had received reports relating to ten people.

A 2009 report by Glasgow City Council – which took over the school from the old Strathclyde Regional Council – found Kerelaw was poorly managed.

Evidence about the school was also heard by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in March, but it has yet to publish its findings.