Abuse inquiry ‘was a poorly-managed mess’
Thursday 3rd September 2009, 1:00PM BST.
THE historic child abuse inquiry in Jersey was a poorly-managed mess, according to Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell.
Det. Sup. Gradwell (pictured), who yesterday finished his contract as leader of the Haut de la Garenne inquiry and is now able to speak freely, said that the investigation had started along UK policy lines but things went wrong when excavations began at the former children’s home.
After the decision was made to excavate without any supporting intelligence or hard evidence, the differences between management of the operation and recognised good practice became obvious.
‘There was no justification for going into Haut de la Garenne as they did. It was a complete and total waste of public money, time and effort.’
Det. Sup. Gradwell said his predecessor, now-retired deputy police chief Lenny Harper, had been offered every opportunity to manage the inquiry in accordance with established guidelines.
But he had refused to listen to the advice of an experienced senior investigating officer whom he had been offered by the Association of Chief Police Officers’ Homicide Working Group in the UK.
Det. Sup. Gradwell said that that officer had recommended that Mr Harper follow the Matrix system used in other historical abuse inquiries – where the most serious cases in a major investigation are given priority and sufficient evidence to go to court is gathered before people are charged.
‘Mr Harper refused to listen to his advice and asked the officer to leave the island,’ said Det. Sup. Gradwell.
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The trouble is the public feel that there may have been a cover up however incompetence may have simply been the case.
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FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES
MAY 10, 2009
During Harper’s inquiry, under public pressure to be seen to be doing the right thing, the Jersey States had told Harper that money was no object. Indeed, the chief executive had complained when Harper had said in a press release that he was weighing up the financial implications. Don’t do that, he was told. Spend what you need to spend. In truth, Harper is still not convinced that there were no relevant human remains at Haut de la Garenne. He points to all the odd circumstances: the teeth, the burnt bones, the builder’s finds, the stories of former residents, the pits dug in the grounds and lined with lime — nobody has ever explained what they were for. But, as he knows, the bodies just never materialised.
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Having seen Supt Gradwell on the tele last night and the night before, methinks he protests too much!.
Still, he will be well regarded by a grateful Jersey establishment.
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Why did Gradwell not mention the involvement of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Police Improving Agency in overseeing, evaluating and advising Harper’s team after the excavation of HDLG began? Of course there is the appearance of a cover-up and every time Gladwell and Warcup overplay their outrage against the courageous Lenny Harper, they arouse even more suspicion in those of us who do not live there.
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Strange though that the usually verbose Lenny Harper seems to have gone to ground now
Perhaps he is working on his book ?
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As a matter of fact, Lenny Harper has replied in detail, unedited, on Senator Stuart Syvret’s blog, in a reply which indicates the high level of supervision he was under by an ACPO crime team (Associal of Chief Police Officers), and giving the detailed forensic reports from the analysts – source material, not in his own words. It makes for interesting reading.
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Thanks Tony Bellows! What a long and meticulous rubbishing of the allegations made against him, very eloquent too. The reported and documented timescales seem to vindicate him entirely. Makes the geezer here look like a right chump and alleges he’s telling all manner of pork-based snacks, not just pies.
Red Riding anyone?
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Yep, very interesting reading indeed. Nothing less than a scandal.
If it is true then it makes a number of very high profile people look very, very dodgy.
stuartsyvret.blogspot.com/2009/09/lenny-harpers-guest-posting.html
..if you are interested!
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Channel news took great delight in criticising Guernsey politicians on the lunchtime news today what a pity there was no mention of the mess Jersey politicians have made of the child abuse enquiry.
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I hope you Guernsey residents take the time to read Lenny Harpers response on Stuart Syvret’s blog.
THEN it may become apparent to you exactly what has/is going on in this septic isle here in Jersey. Too many high profile people with too much to lose if the truth were known.
Respect to Lenny Harper, a good and honest man. Nothing to say about Gradwell.
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The local media’s disgraceful, blanket coverage of Mr Gradwell’s diatribe was pathetic. Take careful note of the silence now shown by those sycophants at the BBC, CTV & JEP now that Lenny Harper has given his detailed response.
You can’t hide from it. The public know it’s there. Spin & avoidance won’t save you. His response was posted on Saturday !!!! Not exactly on the ball now are you ?
To those in charge there & those who let it happen – Shame on you. You are a disgrace to journalism.
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I have to agree wholeheartedly with Dave here.
I recall CTV, at the time of their coverage, making some comment that they had tried to get a response from Mr Harper but were unable to. It seems now that Mr Harper was not in the country when the story was being run.
There has now been a full and detailed response and, apart from a few lines on the on-line Channel 103 radio site, there has been a blanket silence.
It could not be more one-sided if they tried.
The JEP website will not even allow comments to be posted on the Gradwell story any more.
Just three final words:
State Controlled Media.
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The creation of doubt is a major problem in child abuse investigations. Victim statements should be recorded by the police with complete accuracy and with considerable care. Evidence should not be destroyed. In our own experience, incompetent police work can sabotage what appears to be a clear case, even on the morning of the trial.
The events in Jersey are separate to events in the Northumbria policing area but we note that David Warcup and Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell came to the Haut de la Garenne investigation on Jersey from Northumbria Police. We can’t comment on their abilities but we can comment on a particular child abuse investigation by Northumbria Police: R. v Lister (Newcastle Crown Court Nov. 2005).
On the morning of the trial, the Judge dismissed the case against the Reverend Peter Lister because Northumbria Police had entered the ‘wrong dates’ into the statements. Conspiracy or cock-up, the result has been the same; the Reverend Peter Lister walked away without any of the evidence against him being heard in an open court.
The Rev. Peter Lister has now taken early retirement from his post of Director of Education at Lichfield Diocese where he was responsible for hundreds of schools and youth clubs.
More than 20 complaints about the handling of the R v. Lister case were made against Northumbria Police. All of the complaints have been dismissed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and getting a review of the case has proved extremely difficult.
Investigations of alleged child abuse must be run to the highest possible standards of professional practice so that victims have access to justice. In the case R v Lister, we believe that the standards of police work were unacceptable. This has to be corrected – the evidence is still waiting to be heard and Church Survivors will continue to fight for justice and a judicial review of the case.
In the Haut de la Garenne investigation, accurate records should be kept of everything and victims and witnesses should be treated with sensitivity and given support. There are Survivors Groups in the UK who may be able to assist.
May we wish the survivors of child abuse on Jersey and everyone fighting to uphold the rights of victims, courage and strength in the pursuit of justice.
Contact: Email: churchsurvivors@yahoo.co.uk
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