One of the country's biggest police investigations into historic abuse in children's homes is to wind down, just four months after a group of influential MPs called for an overhaul of investigation methods used by police in such cases (news, page 6, 7 November 2002).

Established in 1996, Operation Care investigated more than 510 care workers following allegations of abuse in 106 Merseyside children's homes during the 1970s and 1980s.

But it has been criticised for using trawling methods and was cited in a report by the House of Commons home affairs select committee in November, which noted that it had resulted in just 67 arrests and 36 convictions. The report expressed "deep concern" over the procedures used by police, arguing that it had led to "the over enthusiastic pursuit" of allegations.

Merseyside Police said that the operation was not being phased out because of heavy criticisms over the use of trawling methods but that, with just a few more cases to investigate, it had come to a natural end.