Staff trapped for hours
Friday 19th December 2008, 2:30PM GMT.
Superintendent Ian Morellec briefs the media outside Barclays Wealth. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0692247)
BANK workers were confined to their office for hours yesterday because Guernsey did not have the right equipment on island to examine the contents of a suspicious package.
Employees at Barclays Wealth in Le Truchot were not allowed by police to leave or enter the building after an envelope, thought to contain a white powder, was opened by a staff member just after 9am.
However, an analysis machine, vital for detecting dangerous materials, was in the UK being repaired.
An examination of the powder was delayed while police waited for one to arrive on loan from the Jersey Fire and Rescue team.
Guernsey Police confirmed that staff were contained in the building for fear of the spread of any possible contamination.
They were released from the office four hours after the incident was first reported.
‘The content of that letter suggested it could contain a noxious substance,’ said Superintendent Ian Morellec. ‘The substance has been identified and has since proven not to be harmful,’ he was finally able to say at 1pm.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Surprise surprise, so no one planned for an emergency whilst the analysis machine was in UK getting repaired, good job the powder wasn’t for real.
In my day in the Force we would just dip ones finger in and get a taste to see if safe.
Oh how I miss the good old days, when life wasn’t so complicated.
Report abuse
Gupta
In your day there wasn’t terrorists to such an extent as there is in todays world.
If you were to dip you finger in China White and tasted that you would almost certainly be dead.
It is well wise to know what you are tasting before you taste it.
The good old days are gone. Things aswell as people can’t be trusted anymore.
Report abuse
Guernsey just isn’t prepared for this sort of thing. Again its the ole attitude that it happens elsewhere not here.
I think its shocking in a day and age where anything can happen. Appalling response rate and heaven forbid that mystery package had been genuine.
guernsey needs to sort out a back up plan. we may not be mainland uk but were still not immune to terrorist like threats
Report abuse
Paul
Thanks for your message which I whole heartedly agree with, and of course we didn’t taste it as I said.
My message was said tongue in cheek as no one else had replied to this article.
Maybe I shouldn’t have joked about this event, and I apologise for my stupid humour.
Report abuse
I know things are getting tight in banking these days, but next time you run out of Coffee Mate, just see if you can’t borrow it in a proper labelled jar.
PS The other day I got a letter from my bank about a cheque I wrote saying Non-Sufficient Funds. I had to write back to ask: Considering the current banking crisis, does that refer to me or to you?
Report abuse
please can anyone help me,i have been looking for a picture of the (houmet de nord) hotel,before it was knocked down,only it has wonderful memories for me whilse growing up ,i would be thrilled if someone could asend me a photo or picture of it as it was ,i would be very grateful thank you mrs b stone
Report abuse