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Six more sites in care home probe Jersey inquiry focuses on cellar
(about 4 hours later)
Police searching a former Jersey children's home where a child's remains were discovered have said they are investigating six more sites. Police in Jersey searching a former children's home where a child's remains were discovered are focusing their attention on a bricked-up cellar.
The remains found at Haut de la Garenne on Saturday were detected by a sniffer dog through several inches of concrete. The remains were detected by a sniffer dog at Haut de la Garenne on Saturday, and six more sites of interest have been identified there by the police.
The search is part of an ongoing police investigation into alleged abuse on the island dating back more than 40 years. Police said the search was a "very slow and methodical process" which could take another two weeks.
Jersey's chief minister rejected claims there had been a cover-up and said the find "shocked the island to the core". They are investigating alleged child abuse in Jersey dating back 40 years.
Senator Frank Walker told the BBC: "One of the big questions has to be: how could a child disappear without anyone being aware of it?" Sniffer dogs
NSPCC HELPLINE Within Jersey: 0800 169 1173Outside UK: + 44(0)20 7825 7489
The remains were detected by a sniffer dog through several inches of concrete and their discovery has led to claims of a cover-up.
Since then, a special helpline set up by the NSPCC at the request of the police has received 63 calls from adults claiming to have been abused as children on the island.
So far, 27 of those cases have been referred to the authorities for investigation.
Mr Harper said: "Part of the inquiry will be the fact that a lot of the victims tried to report their assaults but for some reason or another they were not dealt with as they should be.
"We are looking at allegations that a number of agencies didn't deal with things as perhaps they should."
Secrets of Jersey homeChildren's home 'like prison'Secrets of Jersey homeChildren's home 'like prison'
Former Jersey Health Minister Senator Stuart Syvret, who was sacked from his post last year, has urged anyone who was at Haut de la Garenne to come forward.Former Jersey Health Minister Senator Stuart Syvret, who was sacked from his post last year, has urged anyone who was at Haut de la Garenne to come forward.
His concerns last year about alleged child abuse in Jersey institutions led to an independent review of child care services by Jersey's parliament, the States of Jersey.
Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Syvret alleged that there had been a "culture of cover-up and concealment" on the island in relation to child abuse.Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Syvret alleged that there had been a "culture of cover-up and concealment" on the island in relation to child abuse.
"These types of cover-ups go up to the very top of Jersey society," he said."These types of cover-ups go up to the very top of Jersey society," he said.
But the Chief Minister said it was "deplorable" that Mr Syvret was seeking to "politicise" the situation. But Jersey's Chief Minister, Senator Frank Walker, said it was "deplorable" that Mr Syvret was seeking to "politicise" the situation.
Trenches searched Deputy Chief Police Officer Harper said the archaeologists and forensic scientists were concentrating on a number of "trenches" at the site where the remains, which include a skull, were found.
Jersey police said sniffer dogs and forensic teams had identified other areas that warrant further investigation.
We have identities of some missing persons but the records are not as complete from those days as they could be Lenny Harper,Deputy chief police officer
Jersey's Deputy Chief Police Officer, Lenny Harper, who is in charge of the investigation, said detectives thought it was possible they may find more remains at the building in St Martin, on the east coast of the Channel island.
"There's a fair number of areas where the dog has indicated degrees of interest and we'll have to get to those over the next short period," he explained.
"We're having to treat it as a potential homicide until we can prove otherwise."
Mr Harper said the archaeologists and forensic scientists were concentrating on a number of "trenches" at the site where the remains, which include a skull, were found.
Officers were focusing their efforts on gaining access to a bricked-up cellar, he added, but it was "a very slow and methodical process" and the current search could take another two weeks.
He also said items of clothing had been found which "tends to corroborate" other bodies being found.
The information that sparked the excavation had been provided by three sources, he confirmed.
"We have identities of some missing persons but the records are not as complete from those days as they could be," said Mr Harper.
He added that there was no evidence of a cover-up by any Jersey government, but officers were investigating "allegations that a number of agencies didn't deal with things as perhaps they should".
Worldwide leadsWorldwide leads
The information that sparked the excavation had been provided by three sources, he confirmed.
Jersey Police began investigating allegations of abuse in 2006.Jersey Police began investigating allegations of abuse in 2006.
Jersey Police began investigating allegations of abuse in 2006.
More than 140 potential victims or witnesses have contacted a helpline set up last year, a police spokeswoman said.
Police have identified dozens of possible suspects in connection with the wider inquiry, with detectives following up leads in Europe and as far away as Australia.Police have identified dozens of possible suspects in connection with the wider inquiry, with detectives following up leads in Europe and as far away as Australia.
The investigation involves several government institutions and organisations in Jersey, with the Haut de la Garenne home and Jersey Sea Cadets the main focus of the inquiry.The investigation involves several government institutions and organisations in Jersey, with the Haut de la Garenne home and Jersey Sea Cadets the main focus of the inquiry.
Jersey Police began investigating allegations of abuse in 2006.
It is centred on the abuse of boys and girls aged between 11 and 15, since the 1960s.It is centred on the abuse of boys and girls aged between 11 and 15, since the 1960s.
The excavation of the home, involving sniffer dogs and ground radar, started on Tuesday.The excavation of the home, involving sniffer dogs and ground radar, started on Tuesday.
NSPCC HELPLINE Within Jersey: 0800 169 1173Outside Jersey: + 44(0)20 7825 7489
Police are using two springer spaniels - seven-year-old Eddie, who specialises in detecting human remains and was involved in the hunt for missing Madeleine McCann in Portugal; and Keela, three, who is trained to sniff out traces of blood.Police are using two springer spaniels - seven-year-old Eddie, who specialises in detecting human remains and was involved in the hunt for missing Madeleine McCann in Portugal; and Keela, three, who is trained to sniff out traces of blood.
The remains have been sent to the UK for dating, as well as for tests to determine the child's age and gender.
The remains are thought to date from the early 1980s.
Mr Harper said that identification of the child would be a "long and arduous" process but officers were back at police headquarters making inquiries into missing children.
"There are records, just how good those records are for periods before contemporaneous times, I'm not quite sure," he said.
Haut de la Garenne started life in 1867 as the Industrial School, for "young people of the lower classes of society and neglected children".Haut de la Garenne started life in 1867 as the Industrial School, for "young people of the lower classes of society and neglected children".
It is now Jersey's Youth Hostel and featured as a police station in the TV series Bergerac, which is set on the island. It is now Jersey's Youth Hostel and featured as a police station in the TV series Bergerac, which was set on the island.
Police say it is vital that any alleged victims still unidentified contact the incident room as soon as possible, on 0800 735 7777. There is also an NSPCC helpline on 0800 169 1173 within Jersey, or + 44(0)20 7825 7489 from outside.Police say it is vital that any alleged victims still unidentified contact the incident room as soon as possible, on 0800 735 7777. There is also an NSPCC helpline on 0800 169 1173 within Jersey, or + 44(0)20 7825 7489 from outside.
Have you been affected by this story? If you have any comments you would like to share, please send them using the form below.Have you been affected by this story? If you have any comments you would like to share, please send them using the form below.
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