VICTIMS of child abuse incidents dating back as far as the 1960s might be living in Guernsey – and are being urged to come forward. Jersey Police are investigating allegations of historical sexual and physical abuse in specific organisations and institutions in that island and say that some of the children might have been adopted and moved to and grown up in Guernsey.

Jersey Police deputy chief officer Lenny Harper said that the investigation was ‘significant’, with police already in possession of the names of more than 50 potential victims of sexual abuse and indecent assault.

And between lunchtime and 4.30pm yesterday, when a confidential phone line designed for use by victims went operational, five potential victims of what Mr Harper termed ‘significant’ sexual assault and one alleging indecent assault came forward.

‘We expect that a significant number of children adopted from here went to live in Guernsey,

as it was part of the catchment area for adoptions,’ said Mr Harper.

Part of the investigation’s main focus, Mr Harper added, was the now defunct Haut de la Garenne children’s home, which continued in operation under a different name from some time in the 1980s until the early 1990s.

Police believe people now resident in Guernsey might once have lived at the home.

Focus has also fallen on the Jersey Sea Cadets.

Jersey Police said they had received full and valuable assistance so far from the current management team of the youth organisation, both in Jersey and the UK.

A statement issued by the States of Jersey Police said the allegations involved serious criminal offences spanning the period from the 1960s until the early years of this decade, although the bulk of the matters under investigation at present referred to the 1970s and 1980s.

The incidents were alleged to have occurred on premises run by the States of Jersey as well as voluntary groups.

Detectives will continue to interview witnesses and victims over the coming weeks, said the statement.

‘We are aware of the ongoing investigation being carried out by our colleagues in Jersey,’ said Detective Chief Inspector Peter Dowding of Guernsey Police.

‘We are liaising with them, but at this moment we’re not aware of any complaints being made locally,’ he said.

‘If we’re asked to assist our Jersey colleagues, we will do so in any way we can.’

Jersey Police said it was understood that the interview process might reopen old wounds in victims and witnesses alike.

Police, said the statement, were working in partnership with the NSPCC to provide a confidential counselling service for those concerned who would like assistance, before or after speaking to police.

Jersey Police assured victims that they would be treated with professionalism and consideration at all times and that the force would do all in its power to bring to justice those who had committed these serious crimes.

* Jersey Police have requested that anyone who had been a victim, or who has useful information, contact the Historical Abuse Enquiry Team on 0800 7357777.

* NSPCC staff can be spoken to daily between 9am and midnight on Freephone 0800 169 1173. Police encourage callers to give their names, but they can remain anonymous if they prefer. There is no link to any other number in Jersey or Guernsey.