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§tèvë

Mar 10, 08 - 12:48 PM

Why the surprise?

Corrupt police officers, politicians and a leading businessman are attempting to discredit the investigation into child abuse at a Jersey care home, the island’s police said today.

Search teams are this morning attempting to break into a second underground chamber at the Haut de la Garenne home where former residents said that they were tortured and sexually abused from the 1960s to 1986.

States of Jersey Police said that at least one of its former officers has made threats against those co-operating with the inquiry. It was also investigating claims that victims were being threatened by former child care staff.

The revelations will strengthen demands for Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, to send independent prosecutors and judges to the island to handle court cases arising from the inquiry.

A spokeswoman for Jersey Police said today: “A small number of police officers have left the force in various circumstances after being accused of activities which could be described as corrupt.

“They, and associates of theirs, including a local businessman and a small number of politicians, have conducted a high profile campaign aimed at discrediting officers involved in their cases.

“This has included sending a large number of letters including a threat to damage the home and vehicle of one of the officers concerned.

“Following the public announcement of this inquiry a politician connected with the child abuse debate was approached by at least one of these former officers and warned not to trust or co-operate with the officers leading the inquiry.”

The spokeswoman said that that no current minister was involved and that the investigation has received the full support of Senator Frank Walker, the Chief Minister,and Wendy Kennard, the Home Affairs Minister.

Jersey Police said that it had been sent letters and e-mails from a number of national newspapers which attempted to smear the leaders of the inquiry. The author was a sister of one of the associates of the former officers.

“We would emphasise that there is at present no evidence to suggest that these officers were involved in any so called ‘cover up’ of former offences of the type being investigated,” said the spokeswoman.

“The focus of the inquiry team remains the detection of people who have committed offences against children and we will not be deflected from this.

“Should there be evidence of criminal offences in connection with a failure to deal with previous matters, then those will be investigated following the priority task of bringing suspects for abuse to justice.”

South Yorkshire Police is conducting a separate inquiry into decision-making within the States of Jersey force. It could lead to internal disciplinary measures against officers who breached rules.

More than 160 people have come forward to say they were abused in a series of secret underground rooms at Haut de la Garenne. Former residents have also told police that abuse took place on sailing trips and children were forced to watch others being abused.

Spots of human blood, a pair of shackles and a large concrete bath were discovered in a secret underground chamber last month. A piece of a child’s skull and possible fragments of human bone have been found buried in a pit in another wing of the 150-year-old building.

Lenny Harper, Jersey’s deputy chief officer, said that detectives were concerned that one incident could have led to the death of a child.

“We can’t say that a person definitely died but if you look at it you have to think there is a strong possibility that the person died,” he said. “That followed by the fact that this person was never seen again.”

Investigators have already charged one former warden with child abuse and expect to arrest two further people in Jersey and one in the UK mainland within the next fortnight.

Meanwhile, the social worker who exposed alleged abusive childcare practices on Jersey is today expected to tell an employment tribunal how youngsters in solitary confinement.

Simon Bellwood said he tried to change a controversial disciplinary system at one of Jersey’s care homes, known as “Grand Prix” where children in the “pits” were kept in isolation.

Mr Bellwood headed the Greenfields residential unit until 2007 before he was sacked. He claims that when he confronted his bosses they told him not to question authority and he later lost his job.

It is also claimed that the practice was criticised in a report into Jersey’s care system as early as 2001 but it remained in use for a number of years. The States of Jersey, Mr Bellwood’s employers, deny all the claims.

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