Jersey’s deputy chief of police Lenny Harper. (0543045)
SOME of the alleged victims of child abuse in Jersey came from Guernsey, the island’s deputy police chief Lenny Harper confirmed yesterday.
However, the number of Guernsey-born people who grew up in former children’s home Haut de la Garenne, currently the centre of a huge child-abuse investigation, has not been given by Jersey Police or Guernsey authorities.
Jersey Police confirmed yesterday that they were still working in the building’s cellar. They have found another object of significance there but would not confirm what it was, although Mr Harper did state that it was ‘not a household object’.
‘The finds are significant as they help corroborate what some victims have said,’ he added.
The archaeologist and anthropologist working on the case will go through what is found bit by bit, he said.
Police have also been working in the field behind the building. A dog is reported to have discovered something of interest.
Mr Harper said that, on the whole, Jersey Police were delighted with media coverage so far.
‘It has been very helpful in drawing out valuable information for us.’
He added that work will continue tomorrow but efforts would be cut back on Sunday.
Mr Harper did say that as well as people who said they had been treated very badly at Haut de la Garenne, witnesses were coming forward to say they were treated very well.
And he confirmed that there was no connection between 76-year-old Gordon Claude Wateridge, who has been charged with indecent assault on two girls under 16, and Haut de la Garenne.
He added that Jersey Police did not believe there had been an institutional cover-up but did know that in various organisations, things were not done as they should.
* A statement issued yesterday by Guernsey’s Health and Social Services Department said: ‘In view of the ongoing police investigation in Jersey, a number of Health and Social Services Department staff are currently reviewing all available records for the period 1940 to the present day to try to establish whether there are any connections with Jersey care homes.
‘To date, the Health and Social Services Department has not received any requests for information from the Jersey Police.’
* National media reports today state that a pair of boys hanged themselves at Haut de la Garenne after being raped, potentially bringing the number of bodies to be found at the home up to at least three.
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