Families affected by the actions of convicted paedophile Vincent Chan have voiced anger, alleging that the Labour party failed to adequately protect children both in the past and present. Their criticism centers on the handling of initial concerns reported about Chan years before his eventual arrest and conviction.
In 2021, when Vincent Chan was a nursery worker, a parent reported significant concerns about his conduct to Bright Horizons nursery. The nursery chain escalated these concerns to the local authority, Camden Council, which was then led by Georgia Gould, the current schools minister. However, according to reports, the council directed the nursery to manage the issue internally rather than contacting the police. This decision allowed Chan to remain in his position, and he was later cleared to return to work with children.
Chan was sentenced to 18 years in prison in February after admitting to sexually assaulting and filming young girls in his care from at least 2022. Police believe the full extent of his offending may never be known.
Families of the victims have stated that the council should have taken more decisive action and have condemned Labour figures, including Camden council leader and Sir Keir Starmer's successor as MP, Sagal Abdi-Wali, for failing to provide satisfactory answers.
Georgia Gould served as Camden Council leader from 2017 until her election as a Member of Parliament in 2024. Labour representatives maintain that she would not have been personally informed of the specific concerns regarding Chan in 2021.
However, one mother told the Mail that ultimate responsibility lies with leadership. "The leader creates the culture, and if the culture was that they didn't take concerns seriously enough, that is ultimately something that she should take responsibility for," she stated. The mother expressed concern about the suitability of someone who oversaw a council that allegedly failed to protect children from serious harm to now hold a role responsible for safeguarding children in schools.
Another parent, whose child was also assigned Chan as a key worker, echoed these sentiments, stating, "This may not have fallen on Georgia Gould's desk, but the buck stops with the local authority - the council - and she was in charge." The parent added, "Paedophiles are infiltrating our nurseries and preying on our kids while we are out at work paying tax to the very Labour institutions that failed to protect those children."
A Department for Education spokesperson affirmed that the ministerial team is taking the case and its broader implications very seriously. Measures to strengthen recruitment and safeguarding requirements, new safeguarding training, and updated guidance on digital devices are being developed. The department is also examining the role of CCTV in nurseries and enhancing Ofsted's authority over nursery groups. A Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review is underway, led by an independent reviewer, to identify lessons learned and prevent future occurrences.
A spokesman for Bright Horizons confirmed that the nursery reported a 2021 concern about Chan to the local authority in accordance with their safeguarding procedures. The spokesman clarified that Chan was reassigned to duties without child contact while the concern was investigated under the local authority's supervision. The company expressed regret that Chan's offenses were not detected sooner and acknowledged the importance of the independent review examining all aspects of the case's handling.
A Camden Council spokesman stated that the council aims for families to receive the answers they deserve through the independent Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review.
The nursery where Chan worked has since closed.