13 famous people to be quizzed by police over historic child abuse in Jersey

Police investigating historic child abuse on the island of Jersey are set to question 13 famous people including celebrities, politicians and sports stars.

Detectives revealed prominent figures who are ''well known'' will be quizzed "imminently" into allegations of institutionalised sex offences on the Channel Island.

Police have not revealed their identities but confirmed that 13 suspects are public figures including celebrities, media personalities, politicians and sports people.

They are among dozens of people likely to be questioned over the next few weeks as part of Operation Whistle into historical child abuse.

In Jersey, the latest allegations of abuse include some suspects and victims not previously identified in the force's 2008 child abuse investigation, Operation Rectangle.

The alleged abuse is said to have occurred between the late 1930s and mid 2000s across four institutions, including the infamous Haut de la Garenne.

The other institutions, which have not been named, are no longer functioning.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull said his task force expects to begin interviews 'imminently'.

He said the police have around 50 victims and 45 suspects - some of whom are dead or not yet identified - but 13 of them to be questioned are well known.

He said: '"Some of them are celebrities, politicians, some of them are people in the media, some of them are sports people. These are people who are well known.

"Some of them are still alive and some of them are deceased but we will not be disclosing more than that.

"Some of them were visitors to the Island, some will have been resident."

He also confirmed that the most historic cases date back to the late 1930s but the majority are from the 1970s and 1980s.

He said: "The most recent cases have been reported in the last five to ten years.

There may be arrests made imminently.

''There will be interviews soon and some of the suspects will have to travel to the Island from the UK.''

It is understood that there may be some crossover with the London Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree investigation into sexual abuse carried out by the former children's TV presenter, Jimmy Savile.

Savile is not believed to be one of the 13 prominent suspects identified but said the force had fielded several further complaints about abuse carried out by him in the Island.

Read more: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/13-famous-people-quizzed-police-historic-child/story-26636539-detail/story.html#ixzz3c96SXUWe


About bloody time!

And their identities are being kept secret because...?

Tommy Monk wrote:And their identities are being kept secret because...?

To give the benefit of the doubt I'd say it's to prevent the Nancy Graces and other charming members of the media from whipping up hysteria before they file charges.

There is nothing to stop that anyway... and isn't it the job of the news services to inform everyone of the news... regardless?



Nobody else enjoys the special status of secrecy...



Innocent until proven guilty is surely enough protection for anyone...!?

Tommy Monk wrote:There is nothing to stop that anyway... and isn't it the job of the news services to inform everyone of the news... regardless?



Nobody else enjoys the special status of secrecy...



Innocent until proven guilty is surely enough protection for anyone...!?

In my area I don't recall them giving names until an arrest is made. It's a "45 year old teacher", "Honolulu man", "a soldier from ----- diviision" Once there is an arrest then the name is announced. Then again I don't watch news that often.

They wouldn't be named at this stage only if charged.
Also it would depend on whether its a UK police investigation or a Jersey Police investigation as the two are different.