A GOVERNMENT inquiry into the methods used by police investigating child abuse allegations is expected to hear evidence of a controversial investigation in the North-East.

One of the issues under the microscope of the Home Affairs Select Committee, which reconvenes next week, is the way police "trawl" for evidence in child abuse cases.

The inquiry, chaired by Sunderland South MP Chris Mullin, has been launched amid increasing fears of scores of miscarriages of justice resulting from false accusations from ex-care home residents and former school pupils.

In particular, the committee will examine whether the prospect of compensation in child abuse cases encourages people to make-up allegations.

Northumbria Police came in for stinging criticism last month for the "trawling" methods used during its £5m investigation into abuse in North-East children's homes.

During the inquiry, known as Operation Rose, police sent out 1,800 letters to ex-residents asking if they had ever experienced any problems while in care.

During the five-year inquiry, 200 people were investigated - based largely on the replies received - but only six people were convicted.

John Scott, Assistant Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, has defended the methods used and said they would trawl again to find victims of child abuse.

But former teachers, who endured nightmare court ordeals before being cleared, said the investigation had ruined their lives and left them unemployable.

One teacher, Ray Johnston, has forwarded a complaint against Northumbria Police to the committee, citing victimisation and malicious prosecution.

"They are very aware of the depth of feeling regarding Operation Rose," he said.

The inquiry will not investigate individual cases of injustice, but it will look at trawling, the Crown Prosecution Service and which cases should be prosecuted, and whether there should be a time limit on abuse cases in terms of the number of years since alleged offences took place.

Sir Frederick Crawford, chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates suspected miscarriages of justice, will speak at the committee meeting in London on Tuesday, April 30.

MP Mr Mullin said: "This inquiry raises difficult and sensitive issues.

"It has been suggested that a whole new genre of miscarriages of justice has arisen from the over-enthusiastic pursuit of allegations about abuse of children in institutions many years ago.

"We shall be looking at the methods by which convictions have been achieved and whether there are adequate safeguards."