Camden Council says it completed a safeguarding review in November following a criminal investigation into child sexual abuse at a now-closed West Hampstead nursery
The leader of Camden Council has said he is “horrified” by a paedophile’s sexual abuse of small children in one of the borough’s nurseries and has sought to assure the public that kids’ safety is the council’s “top priority”.
Vincent Chan, 45, pleaded guilty to 26 charges involving four very young victims he preyed on while he was employed at a now-closed nursery in West Hampstead.
Chan appeared in the dock at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday (December 3) where he admitted to the offences. Shortly after, Camden Council Leader Richard Olszewski (Labour) released a statement sharing the council’s collective shock at the nature and extent of the crimes.
“This is extremely distressing for the directly affected families, and the parents and carers of children who attended the nursery,” he said. “I want to reassure everyone that the safety of children and families in Camden – including those directly involved – is our top priority.”
The council confirmed the Metropolitan Police’s criminal investigation that led to Chan’s conviction only related to the now-closed nursery in West Hampstead, where he attacked the children. The probe, dubbed Operation Lanark, did not involve any other council-run settings or council employees, the Town Hall said.
The local authority added that it had already completed a “rapid” safeguarding review into what happened, along with the Met and the NHS, and had begun a more detailed child safeguarding practice review.
As the local safeguarding authority, Camden said it had also been working with other public organisations to “coordinate and mobilise dedicated specialist services to support the families who may have been affected at this incredibly difficult time.”
A spokesperson for the nursery said it was “shocked and appalled” by Chan’s crimes and said it would commission an external expert to review its safeguarding practices. They added that the former employee had an enhanced DBS and they had checked his references.
‘One of the most horrific crimes
Chan was first arrested in June 2024 on suspicion of child cruelty after his colleague reported he had captured disturbing footage of the kids using the nursery-issued iPad. But following his arrest, police discovered a substantial number of indecent images of children and evidence of sexual abuse.
He was subsequently rearrested on September 8 and charged the next day. He will receive a sentence at the same court on Friday 23 January 2026.
Vincent Chan’s arrest.mp4
The police said Operation Lanark remains ongoing as they continue to review digital devices and the paedophile’s conduct across all relevant settings.
Investigation lead Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said: “Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable, and Chan’s offending spanned years, revealing a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse.
“He infiltrated environments that should have been safe havens for children, exploiting the trust of families and the wider community to conceal his actions and prey on the most vulnerable.”
Mr Chan’s offences are:
- Five counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration, with victims between two to four-years-old
- Four counts of sexual assault of a child by touching
- 11 counts of taking indecent photos of children
- Six counts of making indecent photos of children, with more than 25,000 images including 280 Category A videos
The court heard that police have identified children anonymised as A, B, E, and F, while child C and D remain unidentified.
On behalf of families of children at the nursery, lawyers Leigh Day said they were “still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse by Vincent Chan at the nursery”.
Camden Council has commissioned an NSPCC Helpline (0800 028 0828) for all families directly affected by the matter. It will run from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 6pm at weekends for the foreseeable future.
Affected families can also email NSPCC on [email protected] They can also contact the Camden children and families service by phone on 020 7974 3317, or by email at [email protected].
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