Jersey abuse: more arrests likely

Last Modified: 28 Mar 2008
Source: ITN

Police investigating abuse claims in Jersey said they are confident of making more arrests in the next few weeks.

The statement came as the first pictures of a second "punishment room" at Haut de la Garenne were released.

The former children's home is at the centre of an abuse scandal after the remains of a child were found buried under a stairwell on February 23.

Investigators have released pictures of the second of four secret underground chambers at the site, which have been referred to by some former residents as "punishment rooms" where they were kept in solitary confinement.

The room is about three times bigger than the first chamber and on the wall a large letter K has been written in black. The rest of the word is covered by whitewash.

Graffiti was also found in the first chamber, with the haunting message "I've been bad for years and years" scrawled on a wooden post.

Forensic teams have now covered that message.

States of Jersey senators have voted to hold a public inquiry into decades of alleged child abuse at care homes on the island.

More than 100 people claim they were physically and sexually abused at different facilities, with the majority saying they were attacked at Haut de la Garenne.

Police have already said they were investigating why claims of abuse made at the time were not handled "as they should have been".

So far one person has been charged in connection with Haut de la Garenne, which closed as a children's home in 1986.

The home's former warder, Gordon Claude Wateridge, is charged with three offences of indecent assault on girls under 16 between 1969 and 1979.

The 76-year-old, who is originally from Croydon, Surrey, was remanded in custody and will next appear before St Helier Magistrates' Court on April 14.

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