Fresh Abuse Claims Made Just before Salvation Army Officer Lawrence Wilson's Death

By Thomas Oriti
ABC News
February 6, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-07/fresh-abuse-claims-made-just-before-salvation-army-officer27s-/5245220?section=qld

Police were receiving fresh allegations against a Salvation Army officer right up until his death, the royal commission into child sexual abuse has heard.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is examining allegations of sexual abuse at four Salvation Army boys homes between the 1950s and the 1970s

Homes at Bexley in Sydney's south, Goulburn in southern New South Wales, Indooroopilly in Brisbane and Riverview on the outskirts of Ipswich and are a key focus.

Detective Inspector Paul Jacob from the NSW Sex Crimes Squad has told the commission he received a letter from Salvation Army Major Peter Farthing in June 2008, detailing fresh allegations against another officer.

Inspector Jacob says the allegations concerned Captain Lawrence Wilson, who has been described as the "most serious offender" in the Salvation Army's Eastern Territory.

The detective replied five days later, saying police would not investigate the allegations unless the victims themselves came forward.

The hearing was told police do not "cold call" victims of sexual abuse at the risk of "re-traumatising" them.

"I think within days we were notified of the death of the offender in this matter," Inspector Jacob told the inquiry.

Captain Wilson's death was revealed in a letter to police dated June 26, 2008.

Counsel assisting the commission Simeon Beckett has questioned whether Inspector Jacob advised the Salvation Army to approach victims about reporting the allegations to police.

"I thought I had," the detective said.

"I thought that was an indication to the Salvation Army that we're not going to start an investigation until these people engage with us.

"It certainly wasn't meant to say to the Salvation Army, 'Don't worry about it'."

Mr Beckett reviewed Inspector Jacob's letter to Major Farthing, suggesting that was not made clear.

"Clearly that was not indicated in the letter, was it?" Mr Beckett said.

"No, not in those terms," the detective replied.

Inspector Jacob told the inquiry the Salvation Army now has a reporting regime with police to deal with sex offences.

Captain Wilson is one of five Salvation Army officers who have been at the centre of the abuse allegations.

More than $1 million in compensation has been paid to Captain Wilson's victims.