UK Police Probe Cunard Abuse Claims
Cunard cruise bosses have spoken of their “deep shock” at a British police probe into alleged child abuse onboard two of their luxury Bermuda-flagged liners.
The “Liverpool Echo” newspaper reports today [Jan.23] that detectives are investigating claims of sexual abuse against children alleged to have been committed by a crew member on the “Queen Mary 2″ [pictured] and the “Queen Elizabeth”.
Police launched the inquiry into a man, who lives in the English county of Wiltshire, after a tip-off. The alleged crimes are believed to have taken place before the Cunard ships were registered in Bermuda in 2011.
A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm we are investigating historical allegations of child abuse by an employee of Cunard cruise liners.
“Inquiries continue. The employee no longer works for the company.
“We would like to reassure parents and the public that the police will be contacting all of the parents they need to speak to in the course of the investigation.”
After expressing the company’s dismay at the reports and saying the shipping firm was cooperating fully with British investigators, a Cunard spokesman said: “Given that the police inquiry is ongoing, we cannot comment any further at this stage.”
Last October the historic Cunard line announced that its three vessels — “Queen Mary 2″, “Queen Elizabeth” and “Queen Victoria” — would be registered in Bermuda, rather than Britain. The name “Hamilton” has since replaced “Southampton” — the British city that was the vessels’ previous home port — on the ships’ sterns.
The decision allows the company to take advantage of the lucrative market for weddings at sea — ceremonies which are not recognised under British law.
Critics in the UK accused the shipping firm of abandoning its British heritage. They argued Cunard was changing the registration of its ships to Bermuda to save money rather than make it because crew wages and conditions will no longer governed by UK employment law.
Cunard is part of the Southampton, UK-based Carnival group – owners of the “Costa Concordia”, which ran aground off the coast of Italy. Bermuda- and Dublin-based XL is reportedly the lead insurer for that partially capsized vessel.
I guess everyone is worring about the 25% duty sad.