Camden leader says children’s safety ‘top priority’ after nursery worker’s offences

The leader of Camden Council says he is “horrified” by the sexual offences against children in one of the nurseries in the borough and has sought to assure the public that kids’ safety is a “top priority”.

Nursery worker Vincent Chan, 45, pleaded guilty to 26 charges involving four very young victims he preyed on while he was employed at a now-closed Bright Horizons nursery in Finchley Road.

Chan appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday 3 December where he admitted to the offences. Shortly after, Camden Council leader Richard Olszewski (Labour, Fortune Green) released a statement sharing the council’s collective shock at the nature and extent of the crimes.

“This is extremely distressing for the directly affected families, and the parents and carers of children who attended the nursery,” he said. “I want to reassure everyone that the safety of children and families in Camden — including those directly involved — is our top priority.”

The council confirmed the Metropolitan Police’s criminal investigation that led to Chan’s conviction only related to the now-closed nursery, where he attacked the children. The probe, dubbed Operation Lanark, did not involve any council-run settings or council employees.

The local authority added that it had already completed a “rapid” safeguarding review into what happened, along with the Met and the NHS, and had begun a more detailed child safeguarding practice review.

As the local safeguarding authority, Camden said it had also been working with other public organisations to “coordinate and mobilise dedicated specialist services to support the families who may have been affected at this incredibly difficult time.”

A spokesperson for Bright Horizons nursery said it was “shocked and appalled” by Chan’s crimes and said it would commission an external expert to review its safeguarding practices. They added that the former employee had an enhanced DBS and they had checked his references.

Chan was first arrested in June 2024 on suspicion of child cruelty after his colleague reported he had captured disturbing footage of the kids using the nursery-issued iPad. But following his arrest, police discovered a substantial number of indecent images of children and evidence of sexual abuse.

He was subsequently rearrested on 8 September this year and charged the next day. He will receive a sentence at the same court on Friday 23 January 2026.

The police said Operation Lanark remains ongoing as they continue to review digital devices and the paedophile’s conduct across all relevant settings.

Investigation lead detective superintendent Lewis Basford said: “Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable, and Chan’s offending spanned years, revealing a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse.

“He infiltrated environments that should have been safe havens for children, exploiting the trust of families and the wider community to conceal his actions and prey on the most vulnerable.”

On behalf of families of children at the nursery, lawyers Leigh Day said they were “still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse by Vincent Chan at the nursery”.

Those families are now intend to take civil action against the nursery provider Bright Horizons.

Camden Council has commissioned an NSPCC Helpline for all families directly affected by the crimes. Details are available on the council’s website along with a statement from the council leader.

According to a report by The Londoner news site, questions remain about the police enquiry and also the Bright Horizons nursery chain — one of the biggest nursery providers in the UK.

Additional reporting by Linus Rees.

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