A specialist military team has been called in to search for human remains at the former Jersey care home at the centre of an child abuse investigation.
A specialist military team has been called in to search for human remains at the former Jersey care home at the centre of an child abuse investigation.
Police say the team will use hi-tech radar equipment to help forensic officers who found part of a child's skull at Haut de la Garenne.
Police say the team will use hi-tech radar equipment to help forensic officers who found part of a child's skull at Haut de la Garenne.
The care home is being searched after more than 160 people claimed they were sexually and physically abused.
The care home is being searched after more than 160 people claimed they were sexually and physically abused.
Some other bones have been found but so far none have proved to be human.
Some other bones have been found but so far none have proved to be human.
Journalists will not be allowed to film or photograph the six-man squad due to the "highly sensitive nature" of their equipment.
Journalists will not be allowed to film or photograph the six-man squad due to the "highly sensitive nature" of their equipment.
Whatever has to come out must come out. There is a desire for absolute transparency The Very Rev Bob Key, Dean of Jersey
Whatever has to come out must come out. There is a desire for absolute transparency The Very Rev Bob Key, Dean of Jersey
The same team was used in the wake of the floods that struck the Cornish village of Boscastle, when it was brought in to search for people who could have been buried in mud slides.
The same team was used in the wake of the floods that struck the Cornish village of Boscastle, when it was brought in to search for people who could have been buried in mud slides.
'Sense of sadness'
'Sense of sadness'
Meanwhile a Jersey churchman has spoken of "an overwhelming sense of sadness" as the 12-month investigation continues.
Meanwhile a Jersey churchman has spoken of "an overwhelming sense of sadness" as the 12-month investigation continues.
The Very Rev Bob Key told the BBC that there was a feeling in Jersey that the abuse inquiry needed to be undertaken with "great urgency."
The Very Rev Bob Key told the BBC that there was a feeling in Jersey that the abuse inquiry needed to be undertaken with "great urgency."
He said: "Everyone is committed to rooting out whatever malignancy that was in there in the past. Whatever has to come out must come out. There is a desire for absolute transparency."
He said: "Everyone is committed to rooting out whatever malignancy that was in there in the past. Whatever has to come out must come out. There is a desire for absolute transparency."
On Monday, more items were removed from Haut de la Garenne and sent away for examination.
On Monday, more items were removed from Haut de la Garenne and sent away for examination.
Police are investigating the claims of alleged victims who say they were abused at the home in St Martin in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Police are investigating the claims of alleged victims who say they were abused at the home in St Martin in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Child's skull
Child's skull
Excavation work has been ongoing since the child's skull was unearthed under a floor in a stairwell at the home on 23 February.
Excavation work has been ongoing since the child's skull was unearthed under a floor in a stairwell at the home on 23 February.
Police have so far not ruled out the possibility that that the skull may pre-date the period under investigation and that the person may not have died unlawfully.
Police have so far not ruled out the possibility that that the skull may pre-date the period under investigation and that the person may not have died unlawfully.
Mr Harper says there is a possibility that the skull predates the alleged abuse.
Mr Harper says there is a possibility that the skull predates the alleged abuse.
The search has been extended to the building's cellar and grounds. Police also suspect there may be four bricked-up chambers in the cellar.
The search has been extended to the building's cellar and grounds. Police also suspect there may be four bricked-up chambers in the cellar.
Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper, of Jersey Police, said his team had so far uncovered a "fair number" of bones.
Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper, of Jersey Police, said his team had so far uncovered a "fair number" of bones.
Animal bones
Animal bones
He said: "We've identified the vast majority of these as being animal. There are one or two that are outstanding and we have to maybe have a closer look at them, but nothing that the anthropologist has identified as being human."
He said: "We've identified the vast majority of these as being animal. There are one or two that are outstanding and we have to maybe have a closer look at them, but nothing that the anthropologist has identified as being human."
A dozen new detectives from the UK mainland have joined the inquiry; extra technical assistance provided and more incident room staff deployed.
A dozen new detectives from the UK mainland have joined the inquiry; extra technical assistance provided and more incident room staff deployed.
The Howard League for Penal Reform has said it will be sending a review team to Jersey at the end of March to examine issues around the treatment of children in care in Jersey.
The Howard League for Penal Reform has said it will be sending a review team to Jersey at the end of March to examine issues around the treatment of children in care in Jersey.
So far experts excavating the site have uncovered a set of shackles and a shallow bath. The shackles had been found on the floor but may once have been fastened to the wall.
So far experts excavating the site have uncovered a set of shackles and a shallow bath. The shackles had been found on the floor but may once have been fastened to the wall.
Police have said that the bath and shackles corroborate some of the allegations made by alleged victims.
Police have said that the bath and shackles corroborate some of the allegations made by alleged victims.
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