Police defend silence over two sex attacks in Town
Wednesday 18th August 2010, 2:30PM BST.
Chief Inspector Ruari Hardy and Barry Griffin of the Guernsey Police in Forest Lane, site of one of two early-hours sexual assaults in the last month. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1011059)
POLICE have defended withholding news for a month that a possible serial sex attacker has been at large in Guernsey.
Yesterday, following enquiries by the Guernsey Press, Chief Inspector Ruari Hardy released details of two separate sexual assaults on lone women in and around the Town area – and launched a witness appeal.
Justifying the delay and potential risk to other females, he said police had been trying to strike a balance between progressing the investigation and allowing islanders to manage their own safety.
‘Since the assault there has been an ongoing police investigation to try to identify the offender without going public,’ he said. However, they had not been able to do that, so were now asking for the public’s help in the hunt.
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
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
Useful Links
I for one would take great comfort in the Police force’s attitude had my girlfriend been attacked.
Allowing her to “manage her own safety” rather than be aware of a sex attacker on the loose is perfectly acceptable, particularly as it allows them to “strike a balance with progressing their investigation”, which appears to have gone nowhere incidentally.
This attitude stinks, sadly I guess nobody is surprised.
Report abuse
What I really dislike about this article (the one in the press) is that after detailing what happened and when, there is a sentence that states: “Neither woman was drunk”
That read to me that if they had been drunk then they deserved it or they would have dismissed the attack because the women should not have been drunk even though the actual news story is the awful man that did this to them.
Report abuse
Holly, I agree, the reporting is offensive in that regard. Perhaps they hold the view that only virtuous women can, truly, be attacked.
Report abuse
I’ve usually been the first to stick up for the police but on this instance I can’t believe the decision they took.
Basically they didn’t want to release any information (even though the chances of someone remembering something unusual or matching his description would have been fresh in their memory) at the time of the event but rather put other people in danger so that they could then apprehend the attacker and get the full credit themselves.
I am convinced that if information had been released then this second attack would not have happened.
I would hope that a full investigation into why the public were not warned and why a public announcement for any information into the attack did not happen.
I happen to live quite close to this area and whilst I don’t make a habit of walking home late at night on my own it is worrying that this person may feel “he’s gotten away with it” and start getting more confident!
I concur Holly, have no idea what that statement of “and neither woman was drunk” has to do with the situation at all. Next we’ll be hearing that they were asking for it as they were wearing provocative outfits.
“allowing islanders to manage their own safety”!!!! what a ludicrous statement to make. Yes of course I would much rather like to deal with this threat of a sex attacker myself rather than have the help of the police.
Report abuse
Why are women always advised against walk alone late at night, and not to wear ‘unrevealing clothes’? Why are men never advised not to walk the streets at night so women can make their way around safely?
Report abuse
I would guess that while most of us have been tucked up in bed in the wee small hours over the last month quite a few police personnel have been spending several uncomfortable hours holed up in the two areas in question hoping to catch the perp red handed
If that is a correct guess the problem of course is that they would have been using the public as unknowing bait
Perhaps they should tart up a female cadet armed with a taser and suitable back up
Report abuse
I totally agree with Lynnie.
As a supporter of the police, almost to a flaw sometimes, even I think their decision was way, way off on this occasion. Almost, I must say, to the point of negligence.
I am going to guess Chief Inspector Hardy had a hand in the decisions (since he features here) and I think he has some explaining to do.
Report abuse
I agree with you totally Holly, drunk, sober or stoned, women should be safe from sexual assault full stop.
Report abuse
My ex boss was attacked between 18months and two years ago, walking between the new car park for residents and baeu sejour car park about 6.00on a winters evening, they never caught him, now for the police to come out and say what were you doing on those dates, i can t remember what i had for dinner last monday, this should of had mass media coverage, or get some expert police from the uk, to help, lets all try to help as next time it could be very serious and someone looses a life,
Report abuse
I wonder if this has anything to do with George Le Page retiring at around the same time? He wouldn’t have wanted the public knowing there’s a sex attacker on the loose while he was off to put his feet up. Might have looked bad. It’s OK to reveal the attacks now that his replacement has just taken over.
By the same token I have seen two, yes that’s right – two bobbies on the beat during daylight hours this week. Thought I was hallucinating at first. Don’t tell me that it’s mere coincidence all this happens during the same week that George Le Page’s replacement starts.
Nice to know the Police have the publics’ best interests at heart.
Report abuse
Holly I agree with what you said the bit about NEITHER WOMAN WAS DRUNK. So what are they saying if they where drunk then they where asking for it??? sad. I think we should be told that this person was still out there sad sad sad…..
Report abuse
Lynnie
Your comment
“I am convinced that if information had been released then this second attack would not have happened. ”
This is the most pertinant point here, that is spot on, with the increased vigilence, increased publicity and heightened fear that an announcement would have made, the second attack would never have happened.
The second victim has every right to ask just what the hell the police were playing at!
Report abuse
something like 60% of sexual assaults go unreported:
http://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/reporting-rates
though these kind of stats normally refer to the victims rather than the police.
Report abuse
This is the problem most of them are uneducated ex forces types. Police should only be recruited from people who achieved at least 1 A level.
Report abuse
Making this kind of decision has nothing to do with A-levels.
Its a failure of ethics, transparency and common sense.
Report abuse
Andy:
You are factually incorrect. Why make comments like that when they are untrue?
Report abuse
Danno – spot on.
Report abuse
This is terrible…It goes on, no-one is told and so it happens again…yeah great policing there guys!
As for the “neither women were drunk”. I agree that if they were drunk, it doesnt mean they’d deserve it. however they could be trying to put accross that as they were not drunk, they could remember the entire thing, explain their story properly and show that they were fully aware of the environment and any noises around them but were still taken by suprise. It is almost a scare tactic that even when you’re fully prepared and able to defend yourself, you CAN still be caught off guard…
Report abuse
I have read the above comments with interest and seen the finger pointing going on as to who is to blame and for what.
There are a couple of things that concern me with this article. Firstly, I’m appalled, like others no doubt, that the press consider it relevant to to include the statement “neither women were drunk”! Since when does a person being drunk make it acceptable to be assualted, whether it is sexual or otherwise? It is not a defence in law if you commit an offence whilst drunk and it should certainly not be considered a pre-requisite to be assualted.
I think some comments are a bit harsh on the out going Chief in that to say that the matter was hushed up until he left and that all of a sudden there are Police Officers on the beat now the new Chief has come in. I think its fair to say that in Guernsey it is ‘Policing by consent’ for a large proportion of the time but it is not an absolute and should not be considered so. One persons may consider something a priority where another may not, so who is right and who is wrong and where should Police be assigned in that case? One thing is for certain, one person will be pleased and the other not.
I apologise in advance if I’m missing something but I couldn’t see the Police saying anywhere in the report that there is a “Serial Sex Attacker” at large in Guernsey! I do see the DCI saying “two seperate sexaual assaults on lone women in and around Town”, but no sign of a “Serial Sex Attacker”, it makes me wonder if this is more of a reporting opening paragraph headline for the press! Whilst admittedly there have been two reports of sexual assaults and my thoughts go out to those women who suffered at the hands of the offensive human being that undertook those assaults, I’m yet to be convinced that it makes it certain its a single offender. I don’t know what the Police know so I accept I may be wrong.
I’m not sure I’d entirely agree with some people who say that everyone should be told as soon as it happened, I can see for and against with that. Certainly for is the need to consider personal safety of female friends and family, but would a public display of information lead to the offender ‘going underground’ or moving location to another part of the island? I don’t know and certainly couldn’t second guess either the offender or the Police in that case.
Alternatively, say very little whilst working on intelligence/information, working plans for observations in the area, laying in wait for the offender to raise his head and catch him in the act and at least that way there is no chance of him slipping off the hook with the help of the legal system with insufficient evidence or a case of the offenders word against that of a traumatised victim! The problem that I see is that Town is a very large area even in this small island and where do you set up observations?
As I recall there were similar sexual assaults in Les Canichers, Bouet, Mill street and Charroterie area over recent years. Are these all to be considered connected because they happened to women at night in or around the Town area or are they all isolated incidents? I dont know! What I do know is that the Police are dammed if they do publish all the details in the media allowing the offender to melt away into the background, or relocate to another area of the island. Or dammed if they don’t by people saying if they had released the first incidents details the second would never have happened, the victim whould be safe and well and the offender would’ve been caught and languishing in a jail cell.
What is fair to say is that times have changed in Guernsey. There has been a change in what is considered to be acceptable behaviour and what is not. From Court reports within this paper I regularly read that the offender was ‘drunk and did not know what he was doing’. This being a defence/mitigation put forward by a Lawyer in Court. That foul and abusive language, intimidating conduct towards others such as aggressive behaviour or urinating in the streets and shop doorways on a Friday and Saturday night is acceptable behaviour in these modern times as claimed by offenders in Court.
What I do know is that we as individuals need to be aware of our surroundings and take care of ourselves, we cant expect others to always be there doing it for us – and I’m not suggesting for one moment that that is what these women thought. We need to be aware of the potential dangers of walking alone at night, drunk or otherwise, and be prepared to act if needed. I for one do not want a Police state where they are responsible for everything, where I can and can’t go, what I can and can’t do – within reason of course. Guernsey is a lovely place to live and generally speaking it is a safe place to live. There will always be bad apples, people who will prey on others, hiding in the shadows like the cowards they are, preying on unsuspecting victims who have enjoyed a night out. With methods like that finding a victim is easy and no matter how sober or aware you are it is difficult to expect the unexpected. The one positive is that each of these women assaulted are alive and able to tell what happened, some, in other places around the world are not so lucky.
I thank the old Chief and his officers for their part in helping make Guernsey the safe place that it is today and wish the new Chief all the luck, I think he’s going to need it with budgets being cut back and demands on time and resources always increasing. For those of you that think you can all do better or have the answers to all the decisions made by the Police then ther is always the Special Constabulary where you can do your bit.
I make these comments as my own thoughts, not to pass judgement on anyone or other comments listed here. I’ve read recent articles where it has degraded down to a slanging match on this column and I would not like a serious matter like these assaults to be reduced to that level. People, lets help look after ourselves and each other and keep Guernsey a safe place to live. Lets work together to catch this/these offenders, lock them up and deal with them in an appropriate manner…..
Report abuse
I think the solution is relatively simple
Hire some female cage fighters to wander around the outskirts of town in the early hours at the weekend and give them some extra “special defence privilidges”!
The perp(v)will certainly think twice about ever assaulting another woman (after his injuries heal and his jail sentence has finished of course)!
Report abuse
Excellent post London Donkey – I tried writing something along those lines earlier but ran out of time so thanks for that!
Report abuse
“Neither woman was drunk” IS a relevant statement given that if you are under the influence of alcohol you are not in possession of all your faculties and could have lead someone on in your drunken state. Secondly, have you seen some of the “ladies” walking/strutting or cavorting around town even early in the evening, let alone late at night? I thought Guernsey had turned into one large brothel – the women look like prostitutes.
OK, I am now going to sit back and await the screams of hostility.
But may I make one thing clear? I would personally castrate any man who assaulted my daughters. No man has the right to assert himself on a defenceless woman, but some woman should take more responsibility for their own safety and not put themselves in situations where it is dangerous – Guernsey or not.
Report abuse
Since no one knew about the attacks and could therefore were not able to manage their own safety any more than they would usually do, I assume that more Police were put on the streets during this time to help prevent further attacks?
Had the attacks been highlighted to the media, the way in which the information was passed to the general public could have been managed so as not to affect the investigation and the press could have highlighted in a casual way the need for people to be wary walking the streets at night.
Report abuse
Might the term ‘neither women were drunk’ might just mean neither woman was the vulnerable kind that fits the victim profile of a sexual predator? Therefore, making this man more dangerous?
The reporter may have asked if either women were drunk and the response was ‘neither women were drunk’. Clumsy journalism and a supplementary question posed by a reporter upon receipt of the police statement possibly?
I didn’t see the jump in the article to ‘they were asking for it’
Report abuse
Excellent post London Donkey – spoken like a real policeman. In fact i wonder if you are in fact our new police chief!
Report abuse
the police have not handled this very well, but without doubt many posters have seized on the story to attack the local force in over-the-top fashion, egged on by the press who are simply cross ‘cos they missed the chance of the stories when they were fresh and cannot stand being left out of any loop. i dare say many anti police posters still resent their parking ticket from 12 years ago and so on. the police can hardly ever win when going public. we should be grateful we have a reasonably competent police force – the vast majority of serious crime here is sorted quickly and they do stuff most of the above critics would have neither the stomach or the bottle to do. they need moral support not unthinking insults.
Report abuse
It’s always puzzled me why anyone, man,women or child,other than those who have to work, needs to be out and about after midnight,be they in a group or worse, on their own.And, no, it still does not excuse the attacker.
Report abuse
@ London Donkey may just be my humble opinion of course but I’d say that attacks such as these should be considered a priority.
I also happen to think that the public should have been made aware at the time. Doesn’t give me much faith in the Police when they ask for the public’s help a whole MONTH after the event.
What else has happened that we don’t yet know about or maybe will never know about?
Report abuse
Andy what a totally stupid and ignorant comment which is far from the truth.
Report abuse
Blah
What is it that the police do that “most of the above critics would have neither the stomach or the bottle to do”?
The vast majority of their time is spent on petty incidents, any UK officer who comes over here will tell you that, it’s hardly West End Central is it?
Report abuse
A.J. did you not go out on the town for a few drinks when you were young then?
Report abuse
Phil:
You’re a police officer are you? If not, how would you know?
Report abuse
DS
I’m assuming that the public would be aware if there was a large amount of serious crime being committed, although on recent evidence I concede that my assumption may be incorrect.
Maybe there are stabbings, shootings, rapes and all manner of offences taking place on a weekly basis that the police don’t inform the public about, in order that they can progress their investigations.
Report abuse
Or maybe the domestic incidents and drunken fights that are very, very common place here would fall in to the category “incidents the critics would have neither the stomach or the bottle to deal with”?
You need to remember that in Guernsey back-up availability is very very limited. The same cannot be said for what you described as West End Central.
Report abuse
The police prob wont find the guy who is attacking women and move on quite quick when they dont have enough evidence..like they did 2 years ago with the attacks on the 3 women then.
Report abuse
Unknown:
Your post is equally as poorly thought out as the police’s decision not to publicise in this case.
The police here have a pretty good track record of identifying offenders. And as for moving on when an investigation has been exhausted, what is their other option? This is not a rhetorical question, I would be interested to hear your suggestions.
Report abuse
I am sat at home right now, and I have tried to get a taxi from Trinity Square to Beau Sejour and yet not one company is available and its before 12am. So what am I expected to do, walk home on my own and hope for the best..?????
Report abuse
One problem with going public with investigations like this is how the police get innundated with calls from crack pots and bitter ex wives and girlfriends who just want to wade in on their former partners or people who have recently peed them off. As the force is small they probably thought it better to focus on there enquiries already underway and not get snowed under with a load of deadend enquirys.
Unfortunately for them it has blown up in there faces, but they were in a no win situation.
Report abuse
You could take the ‘neither woman was drunk’ statement to be a warning that the person is not just attacking those who appear more vulnerable? Just a thought, doesn’t necessarily have to be a veiled insult.
Report abuse
CO
There are known knowns ( These are things that we know)
There are known unknowns ( That is to say,there are things we know we don’t know)
But there are also unknown unknowns ( These are things we don’t know we don’t know)
Not sure if that was said by Donald Rumsfeld or Eric Cantona
Report abuse
TaxiGirl, call up one of those cheap “taxis” or one of your mates, secretly hand over the cash though ;)
Report abuse
I cant understand how im being stupid; one can join the Police with no educational qualifications at all – an unpalatable fact I realise.
Report abuse
Andy:
Are you changing what you originally said (Not that there is anything wrong with that)? I quote: “This is the problem most of them are uneducated ex forces types. Police should only be recruited from people who achieved at least 1 A level”.
Whilst you may be correct in your second post, in that officers do not need formal qualifications, this is ENTIRELY different from suggesting that most of them are uneducated ex-forces types.
Report abuse
If it is true that one can join the police force in Guernsey with no qualifications at all then it is not surprising that some decisions are lacking in reason and logic and intelligence. In the UK four or five GCSE’s are required to join the police force; but of course Guernsey is nothing to do with the UK and the ‘horrible’ UK must not be compared with perfect Guernsey so forget I said all that!
What it all boils down to in the end is that here [as in the 'horrible' UK]there is little point in women trying to go out safely at night because of the numbers of men who ARE drunk {can someone explain why it mattered whether or not the women who were attacked were, in fact, sober] means that some stupid slob out of his brains [that is if he had any to begin with]is going to regard any lone woman as dinner even if she is just going about her lawful sober business.
Report abuse