Serious Crime Division officers have been ordered to review investigations into allegations of abuse at Kingspark School in Dundee.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House has referred several cases of alleged ill-treatment of disabled children dating back to 2010, and how the police handled the claims, to the specialist unit.
The allegations, which were previously reported by parents and investigated by the then Tayside Police, are that their children were returning home with unexplained injuries.
One young girl suffered more than 80 bruises on her arms, legs and body, one parent claimed.
The parents insist police did not properly investigate their allegations and did not interview them about their claims at the troubled school, which The Courier this week revealed had received a critical report by Education Scotland.
Following repeated allegations by a group of parents of a cover-up by Dundee City Council, police investigations and review commissioner John McNeill urged Police Scotland to hold a fresh inquiry and last night it was confirmed that Mr House has now ordered a new investigation.
A spokesman for the force said: “Police Scotland initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding injuries sustained by a pupil at Kingspark School in 2010 following a recommendation from the police investigations and review commissioner earlier this year.
“In addition, we are reviewing the police response to concerns raised post 2010.”
A group of families who raised the issues have taken legal advice on the matter and are to meet the council’s education convener, Stewart Hunter, and Lord Provost Bob Duncan on Friday to discuss the Education Scotland report.
A spokesman for the group said: “On legal advice, we can’t make any further comment until after the meeting on Friday.”
Dundee City Council was asked to comment on the reopening of the investigation but declined to do so, instead issuing a statement restating their own action plan.
For more on this story see Thursday’s Dundee edition of The Courier.