BLAENAU Gwent MP Nick Smith is backing the campaign to make care home owners legally responsible for neglect in the wake of Operation Jasmine.

The MP has been campaigning for justice for the families of 103 alleged victims of care home abuse following the collapse of the £11.6 million, seven-year investigation.

Dr Prana Das had faced a string of charges relating to neglect and fraud at six Gwent care homes run by Puretruce Health Care Limited, where he was a director, but he and his coaccused Paul Black did not go on trial after a beating left Dr Das brain damaged.

In a speech at the Welsh Grand Committee in Westminster, Mr Smith called for the Government to adopt changes to the Care Bill that would add a corporate safeguarding element to care home ownership.

The amendment would mean that registered care providers would be guilty of a criminal offence if their management is responsible in any part for neglect. It comes as a group of Welsh MPs led by Mr Smith are demanding a public inquiry into Operation Jasmine.

He said: “I’ve been hugely impressed by the dignity, bravery and persistence shown by relatives in the face of this failure. Those I’ve spoken to or whose accounts I’ve heard – tell harrowing stories. Stories of loved ones looking like prisoner of war camp victims.

“Open wounds left to fester, wounds so appalling one daughter ran out of the hospital room in horror.

“Like everyone else I want our care standards and inspection regimes to be robust – so everyone has the high quality care we’d all want for ourselves and our loved ones.”