Jersey police say arrests likely in child abuse case

BRITAIN: POLICE SAID yesterday they expect to make a series of arrests in connection with allegations of child abuse over a …

BRITAIN:POLICE SAID yesterday they expect to make a series of arrests in connection with allegations of child abuse over a 40-year period at a former children's home in Jersey.

Officers are responding to claims of abuse from up to 160 former residents at the home in Haut de la Garenne where the remains of a child's skull were found during excavation work.

Police are focusing their investigation on a bricked-up cellar, which search dogs identified as one of a number of "hotspots". A dog showed a strong reaction when it was sent into the cellar yesterday, intensifying fears that more bodies will be found.

An anthropologist and an archaeologist are expected to start work in the cellar tomorrow and police are expected to break into a second cellar later today.

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The island's deputy chief police officer Lenny Harper said they were investigating claims that child-size "shackles" were found by builders in 2003 but added that he has seen no evidence they existed. However, certain items have been found which may be linked to abuse at the home.

"We have received over 70 calls in the last two days - a lot talked about this cellar," Mr Harper said. "I would not say what item we found was for operational reasons. The item was fixed to the floor . . . The time that we are thinking that we will be in there [ in the cellar] is increasing."

As the police search continues, victims have revealed their stories of alleged beatings and sex attacks. When the building was used as a care home, former residents have claimed they were raped, drugged and flogged.

Jersey police said they plan to interview up to 40 individuals who may have had responsibility for the care and welfare of children at the home at various stages since the 1960s.

However, Mr Harper cautioned that the inquiry was centred on allegations of abuse and there was no firm evidence yet of unlawful deaths.

"The abuse was spread over so many years that there was a succession of people coming through the house in positions of responsibility," Mr Harper said.

"The allegations are being made against a wide spectrum of people who worked there. It's inevitable that some of the abusers knew each other - in fact the evidence points to that being the case - but it was not an organised ring," Mr Harper said.

"We were always confident that there will be arrests in this investigation. Not all of those arrests - in fact very few of those arrests - may well depend on what we are finding or not finding behind us. There will be arrests."

The child abuse investigation in Haut de la Garenne started after a number of former members of staff were arrested on suspicion of paedophile crimes. Police say the force will also investigate all care agencies in Jersey and former police officers because victims made complaints of abuse but "they were not dealt with".

Mr Harper said the operation was worldwide and detectives have taken statements from witnesses in Australia and Thailand.

Meanwhile, Jersey's embattled chief minister, Frank Walker - who was accused by a former minister of trying to cover up allegations of mistreatment of children in care on the island - said the government's main concern was to identify and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse.

He said: "All necessary resources are being made available to ensure the most comprehensive inquiry possible. Jersey's judicial system is of the highest standard, it is committed to ensuring that in every case it operates independently and impartially.

"I have every confidence that the criminal investigations and any subsequent prosecutions will be, and will be seen to be, thorough and pursued with the utmost rigour and professionalism."

The allegations against Mr Walker were made by Jersey's former minister for health and social services, Stuart Syvret, who was sacked in September 2007 after voicing concerns about children's services. He says there has been a "systemic failure in child care" on the island.