Scarlett.
28-02-2008, 05:54 PM
Jersey police investigating the former children's home at the centre of a major child-abuse investigation have said that they have "a couple of finds of some significance" in a bricked-up cellar room.
Police search Jersey children's home
Police have found a third underground cavern
They refused to say what the items were, but Jersey Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper said that "they are items which witnesses have said were in there when offences were committed against them."
However, he made it clear that no further human remains have been found since a child's skull was discovered in the building on Saturday.
The news comes after it emerged that police are investigating a third underground room at the home.
A former employee at Haut de la Garenne described an outside store in the grounds of the property, separate to the two cellars already being searched by forensic experts.
The secret caverns are the focus of the police investigation after a sniffer dog trained to find human remains detected a strong scent in that part of the building.
Jersey police said they were alerted to the third chamber last night.
"An ex-member of staff contacted the police to say that there may be a third underground room, not connected to the two cellars they have found already.
"It is not connected directly to the building and it might have even disappeared as it was a long time ago.
"But as he has come forward and we need to establish what is there."
Forensic archaeologists returned to the cellars beneath the home today, painstakingly excavating the 12ft by 12ft chamber.
They are expected to take all day to clear the rock, stone and clay which was used to fill in the space before they break into a second adjoining room, which has been bricked up.
The search team also started to dig a patch of turf near a blue and white marquee set up next to the care home.
But the main focus is the cellar where the sniffer dog reacted in the same way it did when they discovered a child’s skull at the property last Saturday.
The investigation into abuse at Haut de la Garenne and elsewhere on the island has prompted 160 victims to come forward and tell of their experiences.
A list of more than 40 suspects has been drawn up, but police are still questioning former staff and people connected to the home as witnesses.
Deputy chief officer Lenny Harper said the operation stretched worldwide and detectives have taken statements from witnesses in Australia and Thailand.
The NSPCC said it had received more than 100 calls from adults reporting allegations of childhood physical, sexual and emotional abuse in Jersey. More than one-third of these calls were made in the last two days and 45 have been referred to the States of Jersey Police, the charity said.
Mr Harper thought the search at the home would last at least two more weeks after they identified at least seven areas where the ground has been disturbed.
Telegraph
Police search Jersey children's home
Police have found a third underground cavern
They refused to say what the items were, but Jersey Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper said that "they are items which witnesses have said were in there when offences were committed against them."
However, he made it clear that no further human remains have been found since a child's skull was discovered in the building on Saturday.
The news comes after it emerged that police are investigating a third underground room at the home.
A former employee at Haut de la Garenne described an outside store in the grounds of the property, separate to the two cellars already being searched by forensic experts.
The secret caverns are the focus of the police investigation after a sniffer dog trained to find human remains detected a strong scent in that part of the building.
Jersey police said they were alerted to the third chamber last night.
"An ex-member of staff contacted the police to say that there may be a third underground room, not connected to the two cellars they have found already.
"It is not connected directly to the building and it might have even disappeared as it was a long time ago.
"But as he has come forward and we need to establish what is there."
Forensic archaeologists returned to the cellars beneath the home today, painstakingly excavating the 12ft by 12ft chamber.
They are expected to take all day to clear the rock, stone and clay which was used to fill in the space before they break into a second adjoining room, which has been bricked up.
The search team also started to dig a patch of turf near a blue and white marquee set up next to the care home.
But the main focus is the cellar where the sniffer dog reacted in the same way it did when they discovered a child’s skull at the property last Saturday.
The investigation into abuse at Haut de la Garenne and elsewhere on the island has prompted 160 victims to come forward and tell of their experiences.
A list of more than 40 suspects has been drawn up, but police are still questioning former staff and people connected to the home as witnesses.
Deputy chief officer Lenny Harper said the operation stretched worldwide and detectives have taken statements from witnesses in Australia and Thailand.
The NSPCC said it had received more than 100 calls from adults reporting allegations of childhood physical, sexual and emotional abuse in Jersey. More than one-third of these calls were made in the last two days and 45 have been referred to the States of Jersey Police, the charity said.
Mr Harper thought the search at the home would last at least two more weeks after they identified at least seven areas where the ground has been disturbed.
Telegraph