Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Children on Cunard Ships

Businesses which bring staff and children into close
proximity need to consider their child protection polices and their implementation

Today’s Daily Mail reports that a man who once worked on two of Cunard’s ships is being investigated by police over allegations that he indecently assaulted child passengers. It is claimed the crew member carried out the sexual assaults on Cunard’s flagship the Queen Mary 2 and its sister vessel Queen Elizabeth.

Detectives started the investigation after a tip-off thought to be from the parents of one of the children involved, all of whom live in the UK.

A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said last night: ?We can confirm we are investigating historical allegations of child abuse by an employee of Cunard cruise liners. Inquiries continue. The employee no longer works for the company.?

Cunard bosses, headed by the  company’s president and managing director Peter Shanks, have launched their own inquiry into the allegations, which officials said had ?deeply shocked? them.

Company managers are understood to be reviewing Cunard’s strict vetting procedures, which are carried out on every applicant and include criminal-record checks.

Cunard refused to say what role the former cruise worker had carried out on its ships, but he is known to have been a low-ranking employee who had regular, close contact with passengers on board.

Read More in the Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2090071/Queen-Elizabeth-QM2-cruises-Crewman-quizzed-child-abuse.html