Yesterday Wednesday 17th February 2016 rather a lot happened. Those who were lucky enough to witness the second appearance of ANDREW LEWIS before the Child Abuse Committee of Inquiry were treated to a cringe-worthy performance of epic proportions, for which the term “stranger to the truth” was never more applicable. As reported by Rico Sorda HERE. The clinical and forensic dissection of Lewis by Advocate for the Inquiry Cathryn McGahey was a sight to behold. Team Voice attended the Hearing and at times we could only wince and I had to confess to coming close to feeling sorry for the hapless, clueless and abandoned Lewis. Nobody should do that. He made his bed and now he lies in it. In every sense. His position as a States Member surely now MUST be untenable.
But “Operation Whistle” is another matter
altogether. On
the same day the States of Jersey Police effectively announced that the
police Investigation into historic sexual abuse in the island, and reportedly in at least
one "care" establishment (Haut de la Garenne)
run by the Jersey Government, is back up and running. Except that it is no
longer “Operation Rectangle” but “Operation Whistle.” Bit of a pity really we rather liked the name “Rectangle,” but
we will settle for “Whistle” provided that it does the job properly. No
cover-ups, no bending to political pressure, and the investigation driven by
police officers who are not afraid to blow the said “whistle” if
there is even a hint of dubious practices, from either their senior officers or
the much discredited Jersey Law Officers who purport to represent the interests
of the “Crown.” (Yes, remember that if you are reading this you learned
assembly of lawyers. The Crown is worn by the Queen, not dodgy businessmen with
influence or third rate politicians with a bad attitude. It is worn by the
Queen and so far as we know she expects her
officers to deliver a justice which is blind to social class, background, political persuation or personal history. You
forgot that in the past. Do not mess up again. While you are at it,
how about some genuine and transparent independence around your decision-making, perhaps something that inspires public confidence rather
than creating suspicion.)
The press release for Whistle is fairly
substantial in its detail, according to
ITV/CTV
(granted not the most reliable source) there are:
7 investigators on the team
26 new complaints since
Operation Whistle went live in June 2015
33 of the suspects are
deceased including 11 in the public eye
41 named victims currently
engaged with officers
9 suspects arrested
13 interviewed under
caution
2 charged, with 1
conviction in February 2016
7 released on police bail
pending further enquiries or legal advice
3 files with the Law Officers Department
for consideration of prosecution
31 on-going investigations
Subsequent media reports indicate that both Jimmy Savile and Ted Heath stand
accused of sexual assaults in Jersey and that some of the alleged crimes
occurred at, as mentioned above, Haute de la
Garenne. Well if they need to dig it up again we know quite a few people who would happily lend a spade.
So what are we to make of it? The police Press Release, and the subsequent release of more details in response to media
questions, together constitutes a substantial and detailed release of information
relating to a sensitive Investigation. Was it the right thing to do? The Association of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) has in the past released guidance to police forces on this very
issue. We do not have access to those
guidelines and ACPO no longer exists, but we do have an extract from the (possibly illegally) suspended former Police Chief
Graham Power’s statement to the Wiltshire investigation in which he
quotes from the guidelines.
In paragraph 308 he says:
“Providing more detailed information to the general public can increase the likelihood of generating additional valuable information.” That seems like common sense to Team Voice. Telling the wider public that there is a live and active investigation taking place can encourage victims and witnesses to come forward and add momentum to the Inquiry. It is the right thing to do. Unless of course your name happens to be Lenny Harper or Graham Power and the year is 2007 or 2008. If that is the case then what you are doing is “sensationalist” and “damaging to the reputation of the island.” Funny business don’t you think? What in one year is near to high treason is a few years later best practice and the right thing to do. It is an odd paradox. Perhaps we can persuade Sir Philip Bailhache to make a speech about it as he did at the height of “Rectangle.?”
Come on Sir Philip, give us the benefit of your wisdom. Is the real scandal the damage to the reputation of the island or do Child Abuse Victims get a look in this time?
“Providing more detailed information to the general public can increase the likelihood of generating additional valuable information.” That seems like common sense to Team Voice. Telling the wider public that there is a live and active investigation taking place can encourage victims and witnesses to come forward and add momentum to the Inquiry. It is the right thing to do. Unless of course your name happens to be Lenny Harper or Graham Power and the year is 2007 or 2008. If that is the case then what you are doing is “sensationalist” and “damaging to the reputation of the island.” Funny business don’t you think? What in one year is near to high treason is a few years later best practice and the right thing to do. It is an odd paradox. Perhaps we can persuade Sir Philip Bailhache to make a speech about it as he did at the height of “Rectangle.?”
Come on Sir Philip, give us the benefit of your wisdom. Is the real scandal the damage to the reputation of the island or do Child Abuse Victims get a look in this time?
Extract from Philip Bailhache’s Liberation Day speech:
“Yet many journalists continue to
write about the Island's so called child abuse scandal. All child abuse, wherever
it happens, is scandalous, but it is the unjustified and remorseless
denigration of Jersey and her people that is the real scandal.”
So why, so far at least, is the Jersey Establishment not braying for the blood of the police officers who have issued
this Press Release? Why has nobody been suspended? Is it because the “good guys”
are now in charge, or is it because the Establishment are afraid? From where we sit, they are still
attempting to extract themselves from the mess they created by the (possibly illegal) suspension of the Police Chief
in 2008 and it might be that they just no longer have the nerve to attempt the
same again?
But let us give credit where it is due. Lenny
Harper and others broke down the door to the chamber of dirty secrets in Jersey.
Warcup and Gradwell, backed by the Jersey Establishment
and sections of the Jersey media, (of the time) boarded up the door. But now it is open
again.
So how should we react to this development? We confess that this is a question which has caused Team Voice some difficulty and our opinions might differ, but on balance for now, we say give it a chance.
So how should we react to this development? We confess that this is a question which has caused Team Voice some difficulty and our opinions might differ, but on balance for now, we say give it a chance.
If you have any information which might assist “Whistle” then get in touch with the investigation and have your say. We know that we have a lot to be cynical about, but give it a go but let us all keep our eye on it just the same. Let us watch it, monitor it, and report what we know about it. If you are on the Whistle team, and if you have a whistle to blow, get in touch with Team Voice. We protect all of our sources of information and we are good, very good, at blowing whistles and we have a growing international/worldwide readership.
After some discussion among ourselves we decided to give Whistle a chance to finish the job others (Operation Rectangle) started. But we will be watching and OUR whistle is ready for us to blow.
Jersey Police can be
contacted on 01534-612612.
