OPERATION Pudsey uncovered a shocking catalogue of child abuse. Workers at two North Yorkshire children's homes had systematically betrayed the trust of those in their care. Instead of offering these vulnerable youngsters the love and support they so desperately needed, six staff at Springhill in Ripon and Fairfield in Harrogate subjected them to years of abuse.

They have been brought to justice so many years after committing their crimes thanks to the bravery of the victims and the dedication of police. Those who suffered at the hands of these men and women did so in silence for many years. It took great courage, particularly from those who initially alerted the authorities to the crimes, to speak out.

The police immediately treated the allegations with the utmost seriousness. They launched a major criminal investigation. It involved hundreds of interviews and eventually went back more than 30 years into the past of both these homes.

Detectives knew it was never going to be easy to mount a successful prosecution against the accused. So many years had passed that the memories of witnesses had inevitably faded. Even tracking down the offenders was not straightforward: one was working in Southampton, another in Worcester.

But three years of intense effort paid off. Members of the Operation Pudsey squad spoke today of the letters of thanks they have received. That is testament to the determination and sensitivity they showed throughout their investigation.

Today the offenders are behind bars and the victims have a better chance of closing this terrible chapter in their lives. It is also important to recognise that some staff had their names cleared and most workers at these and other children's homes are caring, professional people.

The lessons learned by those involved in Operation Pudsey should be made available to other police forces. The North Yorkshire detectives have proved that it is possible to bring child abusers to justice even if many years have elapsed since their crimes. That should encourage other victims to come forward.