Jersey to get first sex offenders register

David Batty

Jersey's chief law officer today outlined details of a new sex offenders register aimed at strengthening child protection on the island after recent abuse scandals.

William Bailhache QC, the island's attorney general, said the register, would be retrospective, covering offenders convicted before the legislation was passed.

"This is a matter we have had under review for some time," he told the Times.

This will be the first time a sex offenders register has been set up on the island.

The UK sex offenders register contains the details of anyone convicted, cautioned or released from prison for a sexual offence against children or adults since September 1997, when it was set up. The register, which is run by the police, is not retroactive, and so does not include anyone convicted before 1997. There are around 29,000 people on it.

The Jersey register will be set up under a new law covering sex offenders, which the island's parliament is expected to debate in September.

Bailhache also addressed concerns that any court cases arising out of the major child abuse investigations under way on the island would be undermined by conflicts of interest. His brother, Philip Bailhache, is Jersey's baliff, the senior judge on the island.

Allegations of abuse at the Haut de la Garenne children's home would be handled mainly by Jersey's legal system, the attorney general told the Times; but if several defendants pleaded guilty, a judge from the mainland could be brought in.