THE police investigation into sexual abuse at Penketh boys' home Greystone Heath has been called into question by BBC1's Panorama.

The programme, which was screened on Sunday night, focused on the conviction of Roy Shuttleworth, who was jailed for 10 years in 1996 for indecent assaults and serious sexual assaults on seven boys.

Shuttleworth, who is now 67, worked at the home, which was for young offenders sent there by the courts, between 1974 and 1986.

An investigation began after a former inmate made an allegation about another care worker in 1993 which was later followed by an allegation against Shuttleworth.

But Panorama's investigation, which included interviews with former inmates, accused the police of deliberately trawling for evidence and talking with solicitors about victim compensation before the case had come to trial.

The programme commented: "Police mustn't say 'we are investigating sexual allegations'. You cannot have chequebook investigations."

The programme also cast doubt on some of the evidence which was given in court, alleging that one of the victims changed his story and it pointed out the lack of witnesses at the time to any of his claims.

The programme also found witnesses who did not give evidence in court. They contradicted the accounts of some of the men who claimed they were abused by Shuttleworth.

Harry Fearns, chairman of the Campaign on behalf of Falsely Accused Carers and Teachers, said: "We thought it was an excellent programme and it was typical of the many cases that we know about and typified the police investigations."

Mr Fearns said he hoped that members of the Home Office had seen the programme and would investigate police methods.

But Assistant Chief Constable Graeme Gerrard, of Cheshire Constabulary, who investigated the Roy Shuttleworth case, said: "The methods of investigation are strictly scrutinised by the crown prosecution services in every case and the standards are carefully examined by each trial judge. They have been found to be appropriate and fair. Specially trained officers have used carefully developed methods to carry out enquiries and all complainants have been supported throughout the criminal process.

"Tony Hall, Director of News with the BBC, wrote to the constabulary to say that the programme maker 'has no intention of raising with your officers any specific case which has already gone before the courts.' The constabulary concluded from this that Panorama did not have any such evidence. The claim that victims were only giving evidence because they wished to claim compensation is not a new claim. It was made during a number of trials and the issues were duly considered in court."