Epsom: The decision to close a unique Epsom clinic providing treatment for male paedophiles has been slammed by the clinic's manager, who says it will "wreck children's lives".

Wolvercote Clinic the UK's only residential treatment facility for men who sexually abuse children will close on July 31, according to the Minister for Community and Custodial Provision Hilary Benn, who made the announcement in Parliament last week.

The clinic's closure will allow for the sale and redevelopment of the NHS-owned Horton Hospital site. Money from the sale is earmarked for improvements to the NHS.

But Wolvercote clinic manager Donald Findlater told the press of his disappointment that the closure would go ahead before an alternative location for the clinic had been found.

He said: "It's devastating - How many children's lives is the sale of this site worth? How many children's lives will this decision wreck?"

The clinic aims to protect children by teaching men who have abused them or pose a threat to them to acknowledge their sexual responses and take control of their behaviour.

The clinic was temporarily located at Epsom's Horton Hospital site in 1995 until a permanent site was found and is run by the Lucy Faithful Foundation with the support of the Home Office.

Recently, it gained national prominence when Chertsey residents campaigned against its relocation to a former orphanage, but on Friday the minister stated the clinic would not be relocated to the Silverlands site.

All men currently undergoing the 12-month course of treatment at the clinic will be returned to their local communities. They will complete their treatment with staff of the Wolvercote clinic via an outreach programme.

According to Mr Findlater, the 305 men treated by the clinic represented a continuing threat to children.

To help them manage that risk, they needed the 24-hour support of the clinic with on-call staff available to take calls from past residents who felt vulnerable or needed help at any time of the day.

He added: "Come next week, this clinic will have gone away. For the children we are not protecting, this will not go away."

Mr Findlater said he is not optimistic a new site will be found in the near future.

July 15, 2002 10:30