This Is Guernsey

By Natalie Harrison

Jersey’s deputy police chief Lenny Harper, in the brown coat, bottom right, was surrounded by UK and international journalists when he gave a media briefing yesterday. (Picture by PA News, 0542356)

A SECOND bricked-up room has been found at former Jersey children’s home Haut de la Garenne. Forensic scientists are expected to enter it today.

Deputy police chief Lenny Harper estimated that it was about 12ft by 12ft – a similar size to another which was entered yesterday. Police fear that more human remains will be found in the secret below-ground rooms.

Mr Harper said that Eddie, the specialist sniffer dog also used in the case of Madeleine McCann, had shown an ‘extremely strong reaction’ when sent into a bricked-up room in the building’s cellar.  His response was akin to that shown before a child’s skull was found on Saturday.

‘Some of the bricking up appears suspicious but there could be an innocent explanation for it,’ he said.

Mr Harper said that working conditions were very difficult for the small team and that, as victims had alleged, the cellar, which is three to four feet below ground, was very dark.

But he said that so far there were no allegations that anyone died or was murdered at Haut de la Garenne.

Police have details of some children who were there, but not a precise list.

Guernsey’s Health and Social Services has said that a number of local youngsters had been placed in Jersey from the 1950s to the early 1980s.

If they had been adopted and that arrangement had broken down, they would have entered the social services system there.

Mr Harper commented on allegations of a child abuse cover-up.

‘The abuse was spread over so many years and there are a succession of people coming through there in positions of responsibility… but it was not a totally organised ring as the years went on.

‘We are working operationally and outside of any political controversy,’ he said, adding that police had had full support from Jersey’s States.

He did confirm, however, that the inquiry consisted of two parts – the suggestion of a cover-up and paedophile activity, with allegations made against a wide spectrum of people.

No former police officers were being investigated for alleged paedophile offences.

Police are also investigating the whereabouts of a set of shackles mentioned by victims which they believe may have been taken from the building.

Mr Harper said that on first sight the room ‘certainly corroborates’ what they had claimed.

He refused to give details of the discovery of an item in the room because it might affect evidence people gave police.

No furniture has been found, but the cellar is said not to be empty and needs a thorough examination.

Mr Harper said many victims who had contacted police were still in a state of shock over what had happened.

‘These are very, very, traumatic events in their lives,’ he said. ‘Some people who have contacted us in the last few days say they were uneager to contact us because of the memories they might have.’

Mr Harper said that police had always been confident there would be arrests.

The investigation has now brought in more than 210 calls from people with information and alleging abuse.

In the past few days alone, 70 calls have been received by the force’s historical abuse enquiry team based at Jersey Police HQ in St Helier.

Mr Harper has confirmed that the investigation has uncovered ‘well in excess’ of 160 victims of abuse.

The NSPCC has also received more than 100 calls from adults alleging childhood physical, sexual and emotional abuse in Jersey.

More than one-third of these calls were made in the last two days and 45 have been referred to the police, the charity said.

Article posted on 28th February, 2008 - 2.30pm