AN INQUIRY into allegations of physical and sexual abuse at a former North Ayrshire residential school has been labelled a 'critical incident'.

Kerelaw School in Stevenston, which is at the centre of Police Scotland's Operation Chalk, is currently examining historical abuse between the 1970s and 2000s.

And the force have now confirmed the operation was declared as critical earlier this year “due to the resources required and the complexity of the investigation”.

A critical incident can be declared at any point during an investigation where it is felt that the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and the community.

In the case of Kerelaw, this declaration is down to the length of time the investigation has been running and the impact this may have on the victims and the community.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said: “A dedicated team of officers have been investigating non-recent sexual abuse at Kerelaw School since new allegations were reported in 2015.

“As the enquiry has progressed additional specialist resource has been invested to ensure the best possible outcome for the victims in this case.

“There have been a number of further arrests made in recent months in relation to this investigation and we continue to work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.”

Earlier this month, police also confirmed that ten people had been arrested this year in relation to alleged abuse at the school, which closed in 2006.

The force confirmed seven men and three women – aged between 52 and 77 – were questioned about the treatment of youngsters there.

Prior to this, Largs man Matt George and Irvine care worker John Muldoon were jailed for a total of 28 years for physically and sexually abusing children at Kerelaw between the 1970s and 2000s.

It came after the pair were found guilty following a six-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow which concluded in early 2023.

It was the second time that George and Muldoon had been convicted previously, and been jailed, in 2006 for a number of similar offences in relation to pupils at the same school.

Evidence about the school was also heard by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in March but it has not yet published its findings.