PSNI help in Jersey abuse probe

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Officers from the PSNI have arrived in Jersey to help with an investigation into suspected child abuse at a former children's home on the island.

More than 100 people claim to have been abused at Haut de la Garenne during the 1970s and 1980s.

On Monday, officers broke through into a second underground chamber.

The investigation is being led by former RUC officer Lenny Harper, who is now deputy chief police officer with Jersey police.

"We have very close links with the PSNI and this extends to many areas of policing and we are very proud of that," he said.

"It is great to have officers from Northern Ireland working with us, they have already made an impact."

Forensic officers are examining the cellar

Police have sent a sniffer dog into the second cellar to search for human remains.

"A member of the forensic team has undertaken a preliminary investigation of the cellar and one of the specialist dogs has been sent down", a spokesman for Jersey police said.

"The dog has given an indication, but it is close to the scene of the find in the first cellar. It is hoped that full access to the second cellar will be gained tomorrow when the forensic work can begin in earnest."

He said the cellar room, which is no more than 5ft high, is three times the size of the first room, where police found a large concrete bath and another item, believed to be shackles.

There may be up to four rooms to be excavated, all of which were bricked up from the outside and none of which appeared in original plans of the building.

The Jersey police spokesman said that away from Haut de la Garenne, investigators were continuing to gather evidence, both in Jersey and the UK.