Care home abuse suspect released

An ex-police officer arrested following an investigation into abuse allegations at a former Jersey childrens home has been released without charge.

The 50-year-old was initially arrested in Jersey on suspicion of "serious crimes" at the Haut de la Garenne home and elsewhere on the island.

The home is at the centre of a wider inquiry into abuse on Jersey.

The ex-policeman was the fourth arrest as part of the inquiry and the third connected with the former care home.

BBC News had been told he had served as a police officer in Jersey in the 1970s, and during that time he had also worked as a volunteer at Haut de la Garenne.

He subsequently left the force to take up employment with Jersey children's service in the 1980s, where he worked for more than 20 years and became a senior care officer.

Jersey's government confirmed the man works for the island's Property Holdings Department, and had been suspended following his arrest.

A spokesperson said: "The employee remains on suspension pending further enquiries being carried out by the police. As with all suspensions, this matter will be subject to regular review."

Scientific tests

More than 100 people have made allegations of abuse at Haut de la Garenne between the early 1960s and 1986.

Police continue to search the building, where 27 children's teeth have been found, mostly in the building's cellars.

Tests are being conducted on 26 that were "very unlikely to have come out naturally before death", police say.

Of the 30 bone fragments unearthed, tests have found that some were cut while others had been burnt.

Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper, who is leading the investigation, said they had 70 suspects in their inquiry into claims, made by 116 people, about the former care home.

But officers have not announced a murder inquiry, saying more tests are needed to establish how old the remains are.

Four arrests

A covert investigation into abuse of children at the home began in 2006 following allegations by former residents.

In February 2008, police began an exploratory search of the home.

Earlier this month, Michael Aubin, 45, appeared in court accused of sexually abusing three boys at Haut de la Garenne between 1977 and 1980.

Mr Aubin, of St Denys, Southampton, is charged with two counts of indecent assault against a seven-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy, and one count of serious sexual assault against an eight-year-old boy.

In addition, Gordon Claude Wateridge, 76, originally from Croydon, south London, is charged with three offences of indecent assault on girls under 16 between 1969 and 1979.

Claude Donnelly, 68, of St Brelade, Jersey - arrested as part of the wider inquiry - is charged with raping and sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl on Jersey between 1971 and 1974.