Concerns raised over Jersey case

A memo leaked to the BBC from the police officer who was in charge of an abuse inquiry in Jersey reveals concerns over legal advice given.

Lenny Harper said the investigation team had been "let down" by lawyers assigned to assist them.

The memo from June came five days after a man and woman, who had been arrested, were released without charge.

On Tuesday, it was announced no further action would be taken as there was a lack of evidence to charge the couple.

Mr Harper, who retired this month, and has hit out at the island's legal system on several occasions, wrote the memo to Attorney General William Bailhache QC on 29 June.

He said "officers were extremely surprised and not a little frustrated" when the couple were not charged.

He said the policy had been no-one would be arrested until the legal team had consulted the files, so as to "avoid the scenario of a succession of suspects being brought into custody and then released".

"Such a scenario in this case would have damaged the credibility of the investigation and risked us being placed in the same category as those agencies the victims do not trust," he said.

'Corporal punishment'

The 70-year-old man and 69-year-old woman had been questioned over claims they attacked foster children in their care in the 1960s and 1970s.

Police had received complaints from three people claiming they were victims of "excessive corporal punishment".

The claims against the couple were unconnected to the inquiry at the former children's home Haut de la Garenne.

Earlier this week, after reviewing the case files, Mr Bailhache said the couple would not face charges.

"The evidential test has not been passed, and it would be simply wrong to bring the prosecution," he said.

Three people have been charged in connection with the inquiry, and action has yet to be taken on another two cases.

There are more than 80 suspects in the inquiry, which is focused on Haut de la Garenne.

Jersey Police started a search of Haut de la Garenne and in February found what they believed to be a skull fragment.

So far police have found 65 milk teeth and more than 100 bone fragments at the former home.