This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

DCO Lenny Harper fields questions as historical child abuse puts Jersey back in the national media spotlight. (0604203)

JERSEY police have begun forensic investigations after allegations of serious sexual crimes in a bunker near Haut de la Garenne.

The former children’s home has since November been at the centre of an inquiry into sexual child abuse in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.  Speaking at the German bunker yesterday morning, senior investigating officer Lenny Harper said six witnesses had come forward claiming serious sexual abuse had taken place there.

‘The allegation is that residents of Haut de la Garenne were taken to the bunker by members of staff and abused there,’ he said. ‘The aim is to collect any forensic evidence which will corroborate allegations that serious sexual crimes took place in the bunker.

‘Before the examination starts, I’m going to put a human remains and blood screening dog in there. Due to the nature of the bunker and its use over the years there is always a possibility of contamination, but it is still necessary for us to go in.

‘We would be surprised if there wasn’t a reaction from the dog. We don’t know what we are going to find.’

The bunker and surrounding area was closed to the public a few weeks ago.

DCO Harper, who retires next month, said there were several entrances and that it had at one stage been easy for people to gain entry.

He said that despite the hope investigations at Haut de la Garenne would have ended in May and have come to a close only recently, he was not frustrated with the pace of the case. ‘We did not expect the finds that we made,’ he said.

Police have found 52 teeth to date.

‘It would not have been practical for us to have maintained two investigations at the same time.’

He hoped the bunker work would be swift. ‘We think and we are hoping it will not be a lengthy process, unless there is anything unexpected. But it will take us as long as it needs to do a thorough job.’

He expected that to be days rather than weeks.

• David Warcup, the deputy chief constable of Northumbria, will replace DCO Harper next month. During the handover period, Detective Inspector Alison Fossey will continue as deputy senior investigating officer and be responsible for day-to-day management. Jersey police will advertise for a senior investigating officer.

Article posted on 10th July, 2008 - 2.29pm