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 06 July 2008 00:46 BST

Review of "barbaric" Jersey childcare system begins

Sunday, 11 May 2008 06:01
Four-day independent review of "barbaric" child protection system in Jersey begins
An independent team will today arrive in Jersey to begin a four-day review of the island's child protection system, which has been described as "barbaric".

The Howard League for Penal Reform will be investigating allegations that children in protective custody were kept in solitary confinement up until 2007.

Its assistant director Andrew Neilson told inthenews.co.uk the charity's review team would work in conjunction, and not interfere, with Jersey police's historic child abuse investigation centred at Haut de la Garenne.

The review team's visit coincides with the appearance in court next week of two people so far charged by the States of Jersey police in connection with their investigation.

Mr Neilson explained former magistrate Lynne Ravenscroft and Jon Fayle, formerly of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, would be "examining issues around the treatment of children" while in Jersey.

On Monday and Tuesday the pair will visit HMP La Moye, La Grand Route De St Marin and Greenfields, which is at the heart of child abuse allegations in Jersey.

The allegations were first brought to the attention of the mainland in August 2007 when then minister for health and social services Stuart Syvret and care worker Simon Bellwood went on the record to condemn the "abusive" system of solitary confinement – known as grand prix – at Greenfields.

Mr Syvret subsequently invited the Howard League for Penal Reform to review the island's secure services for children.

He was sacked in September last year amid allegations of bullying social services staff, but he claimed he had been dismissed for whistleblowing.

Mr Neilson said the Howard League for Penal Reform was aware of the "discrepancies" being put forward by various parties in Jersey.

He explained Ms Ravenscroft and Mr Fayle would examine this "culture of secrecy".

"We are aware of these allegations and we will be talking to individuals who have been through the criminal justice side of the care system as we keep an open mind throughout the review," he added.

On Monday Gordon Claude Wateridge, a former warden at Haut de la Garenne, will appear in court charged with sexually abusing three girls in the 1960s and 70s.

Later this month another Jersey resident, Claude James Donnelly, will also appear in court after being charged with raping a girl between 1971 and 1972.

Jersey police's investigation, which was only made public after Mr Syvret's 'whistleblowing', was thrust into the worldwide media's attention when a fragment believed to be a child's skull was found at Haut de la Garenne last February.

Forensic officers have still not yet completed probing the former children's home cellars.End of story


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