This Is Guernsey

By Natalie Harrison

POLICE in the Channel Islands now have the names of over 100 people alleging child abuse. Jersey Police confirmed yesterday that since investigation telephone lines became operational on Thursday, 51 people had contacted them or the NSPCC from across the Bailiwick, Jersey and as far afield as Thailand and Australia.

This includes contact from individuals now living in Guernsey.

Jersey Police spokeswoman Louise Nibbs said yesterday that 32 calls had been received by the historical abuse enquiry team, while a number of people had telephoned a separate NSPCC-run line.

And the response to that defied expectations.

‘The latest update from NSPCC is that there have been 19 calls which we have yet to analyse but the society tell us that the average for a police line of this type is six calls,’ said Miss Nibbs.

Before going public with the investigation, police were already aware of 50 alleged victims of abuse, said to have occurred at a number of institutions and organisations in Jersey from as far back as the 1960s.

The spotlight has fallen in particular on the former children’s home, Haut de la Garenne, which was renamed in the 80s and eventually closed down in the early 90s.

It is thought a number of children may have been adopted and brought to Guernsey and may now be living as adults in the Bailiwick or further afield.

Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper, leading the year-and-a-half-long investigation, told journalists earlier that while most of the suspected abusers were said to be male, the allegations were such that some women were also said to have been involved in committing the abuse.

And on the question of whether the revelations might prompt any offenders to leave the island in fear of prosecution, Mr Harper said that would do them no good at all.

‘If they have committed these offences, they may be assured that there is a fair possibility that the States of Jersey Police will be knocking on their doors,’ he said.

* Were you a victim of abuse at Haut de la Garenne or elsewhere? Call 0800 169 1173 or, if outside the UK please dial: +44 (0)20 7825 7489.