An investigation has revealed that Richard “Dougie” Douglas, a former army medic with a 25-year history of abuse allegations, is managing illegal children’s homes in Merseyside.
Douglas works for SafeSpace4U, an unregulated care provider currently under criminal investigation for operating unregistered facilities. Reports indicate that at least seven local councils have placed vulnerable children in homes run by the company, despite its headquarters being linked to organized crime figures.
Documents obtained during the investigation show Douglas has been reported to police for serious physical attacks by two separate women, alongside historical domestic abuse reports dating back to 1999. In addition, Douglas provided character references for two convicted felons who were later convicted of abusing a 15-year-old girl at an illegal home in Durham.
When questioned, Douglas denied the allegations via his legal representative, claiming his criminal record checks had raised no concerns.
On 9 August 2026, Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza and local MPs called for an immediate, urgent review into how public authorities allowed unregulated placements to continue without effective safeguarding checks.
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the UK Register Database Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.