Kids Company founder denies charity failed to handle sex abuse allegations
The founder of Kids Company has denied that the charity failed to handle allegations of sexual abuse.
One former worker told BBC Two's Newsnight that staff were told of complaints from girls - who alleged that they had been sexually exploited by a male client - but did not pass on the concerns to authorities.
But Camila Batmanghelidjh said the charity - which closed on Wednesday amid a row over funding - was never alerted to the allegations, insisting staff would have told police of any claims it knew about.
"If such a thing had taken place.. it would have triggered all our safeguarding procedures and been immediately reported," she told Newsnight.
"There is no awareness of this incident having taken place at Kids Company's premises or been brought to Kids Company's attention - we would have totally reported something like that."
The Metropolitan Police announced last week that it had launched an investigation into Kids Company, led by the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.
The allegations were blamed by the charity for the loss of donation which could have secured its future.
Yesterday, Ms Batmanghelidjh broke down in tears as she told ITV News Social Affairs Editor Penny Marshall of her devastation at the charity's closure.
Alan Yentob, the charity's chairman, told ITV News that "untrue" allegations were to blame for Kids Company's demise.
The Government has held talks about how it is going to support the estimated 36,000 vulnerable children hit by the sudden closure of the charity.