Police officers investigated over camp abuse response
Two police officers and three staff members from Leicestershire Police, along with two staff members from Nottinghamshire Police, are facing gross misconduct investigations over their response to a "horrific" safeguarding incident at a summer camp.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating whether delays in the police response allowed further harm to occur at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire. On 27 July 2025, Nottinghamshire Police received a report raising concerns for the children's safety, which was then passed to Leicestershire Police. However, officers did not attend or arrest the camp leader until 21 hours later.
The Crimes of Jon Ruben
The investigations follow the sentencing of Jon Ruben, 76, a former vet and church volunteer who ran the summer camp for 27 years. On 6 February 2026, he was sentenced to 23 years and 10 months in prison for a series of "monstrous" crimes committed last summer.
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"The Sweet Game": Ruben tricked children into eating sweets that he had injected with liquid Xanax and other tranquillisers. He told them it was a game to see who could eat them the fastest.
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The Assaults: While the children were drugged and unconscious, Ruben sexually abused them. He also admitted to drugging his own wife, who was volunteering at the camp, so she would not wake up while he committed the offences.
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The Discovery: Volunteers eventually raised the alarm after finding syringes and drugs in Ruben’s bags while he was out with some of the children at a nearby pub.
The Police Misconduct Probe
The IOPC is focusing on the "missing hours" between the initial call and the arrest.
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Leicestershire Police: Two officers and three staff members are being investigated for allegedly failing to review the information properly or progress the safeguarding concerns quickly enough.
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Nottinghamshire Police: Two staff members face notices over how the initial emergency call was graded and risk-assessed, and whether these errors caused the delay.
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IOPC Expansion: The watchdog initially only planned to investigate Leicestershire Police but expanded the probe in December 2025 after Nottinghamshire Police conducted an internal review of their own call-handling.
Impact on Victims
At the sentencing, Ruben’s wife described him as a "sadistic, monstrous paedophile." Parents of the victims also spoke of their "horrendous nightmare," with one mother describing how her son now barricades himself in rooms because he no longer feels safe.
Police have warned there may be more victims from Ruben's 20-year history of working in local schools and church groups, and they are urging anyone with concerns to come forward.
