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| MPs call for Jersey abuse inquiry | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The British Government is being urged to hold an independent inquiry into alleged child abuse in Jersey. | |
| MPs, led by Labour's Austin Mitchell, have said the political authorities have been "seriously compromised" by repeatedly failing to act properly. | |
| However, the States of Jersey's Chief Minister, Frank Walker, has denied any cover-up in tackling the allegations. | |
| It comes after police resumed excavations at a former children's home where a child's remains were found. | |
| An MPs' motion to the House of Commons has also accused island officials of "concealment" in failing to deal with the problem. | |
| It urges the Lord Chancellor to take steps to ensure that independent judges and prosecutors are appointed to deal with the case. | |
| The overriding concern of the establishment is the image of Jersey Senator Stuart Syvret Island's 'culture of secrecy'Sniffer dog tackles concreteSecrets 'shatter idyll' | |
| Police have been focusing their attention on a bricked-up cellar of the Haut de la Garenne home, which now serves as a Youth Hostel, after the remains were discovered at the weekend. | |
| Former residents of the home have also been giving details of the regime at the home, which was first used to house children in 1900. | |
| One, Cyril Turner, 48, claimed children would be "locked in a dark room with just bread and water". | |
| Mr Turner said he managed to escape the abuse at Haut de la Garenne by climbing through a window, and that he was sent to the home because he was a "trouble-maker". | |
| He said: "We were quite often given dead arms and dead legs by the staff," he said. | |
| "If you were bad, you would get locked in a dark room with just bread and water." | |
| Mr Turner, who still lives on the island in St Clement, was a resident at the home for several weeks and said that when children went missing, they were told they had "run off and emigrated". | |
| 'Dark cloud' | |
| On Tuesday, Mr Walker told island senators that anyone who abused children or colluded with abuse would be pursued. | |
| In a statement made to the States of Jersey - the equivalent of the UK's parliament - Mr Walker, the island's leading politician, spoke of a "dark cloud" hanging over it, following news police were investigating 27 cases of child-abuse. | In a statement made to the States of Jersey - the equivalent of the UK's parliament - Mr Walker, the island's leading politician, spoke of a "dark cloud" hanging over it, following news police were investigating 27 cases of child-abuse. |
| Mr Walker and other leading members of the Jersey government have been criticised by former island Health Minister, Senator Stuart Syvret, who accused them of mishandling previous instances of child abuse. | Mr Walker and other leading members of the Jersey government have been criticised by former island Health Minister, Senator Stuart Syvret, who accused them of mishandling previous instances of child abuse. |
| "The overriding concern of the establishment is the image of Jersey - to prosecute people would be apocalyptically bad for the Jersey establishment," said Mr Syvret. | "The overriding concern of the establishment is the image of Jersey - to prosecute people would be apocalyptically bad for the Jersey establishment," said Mr Syvret. |
| Special helpline | Special helpline |
| Six more "sites of interest" have been identified by police at the site of the children's home. | |
| Police were alerted to the site during their investigation into child abuse allegations stemming from the time when the building was a home for children with behaviour problems. | Police were alerted to the site during their investigation into child abuse allegations stemming from the time when the building was a home for children with behaviour problems. |
| Jersey's deputy police chief, Lenny Harper, has said so far his officers had uncovered "no evidence of a cover-up of any Jersey government". | Jersey's deputy police chief, Lenny Harper, has said so far his officers had uncovered "no evidence of a cover-up of any Jersey government". |
| In 2006, Jersey Police began investigating allegations of abuse in the 1960s, 70s and 80s of boys and girls aged between 11 and 15. | In 2006, Jersey Police began investigating allegations of abuse in the 1960s, 70s and 80s of boys and girls aged between 11 and 15. |
| Police say it is vital that any alleged victims still unidentified contact the incident room as soon as possible, on 0800 735 7777. | 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. | 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 the issues raised in this story? Do you live in Jersey? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Do you live in Jersey? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |