Independent Advisory Group established during the Haut de la Garenne investigation

1240/5(5241)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY SENATOR A. BRECKON

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 23rd MARCH 2010

Question

"Following the announcement in the States by the then Minister for Home Affairs on 29th April 2008 that an Independent Advisory Group had been set up in relation to the Haut de la Garenne investigation and that the members at that time were Reverend Geoff Houghton, Mrs. Carol Canavan, Mr. Kevin Keen, Mr Stephen Regal and the Data Protection Commissioner, would the Minister inform members -

1. a t whose instigation this Advisory Groupwas set upandwhy?
2. w h at their termsofreferencewere,who drew these up andonwhatbasis?
3. h o w the initial members were selected andwhether there were any changesofmembership after April 2008?
4. h o w often did the Advisory Group meetandhowwere they resourced?
5. d i d the Group produce any reports and, if so, arethesepubliclyavailable?"

Answer

Before answering the detailed question I need to explain what an Independent Advisory Group normally does and how it is made up. Independent Advisory Groups were introduced in the aftermath of the Macpherson Enquiry into the death of Steven Lawrence. The concept underlying such groups is that they can advise the police on any specific community issues and concerns.

An Independent Advisory Group does not normally have any function of oversight in relation to an investigation. Its normal functions are, as its name suggests, to advise the police in relation to issues such as how a particular investigation may be viewed or is being viewed by members of the public or by the members of any particular ethnic or other community. Independent Advisory Groups will normally be standing groups within a particular area with the relevant members to a particular investigation being consulted in relation thereto. For the reasons set out above the members are normally representative of individual communities rather than general representatives of the community.

I also want to pay tribute to the individual members of the Jersey group who undoubtedly endeavoured to faithfully serve the Island in this way.

I now move on to the individual questions:

1. I n February 2008 the ACPOHomicideWorking Group recommended the setting upofanIndependent Advisory Group.
2. T heterms of reference for the Advisory Groupweredrawnupbythe States of Jersey Police and circulated to them by the ChiefOfficer.

T h e terms of reference were as follows:

1. to identify and address anyrisksorpotentialareasof criticism regarding the investigation, matters leading up to itorsince it commenced.
2. to address any areasofrisk with regards to the investigation.

3. to considerissuesfor victims and community.
4. to considerimpact to or from any other agencyor public body.
5. to considermedia implications.

T h e se terms of reference are wider than is normal for such a group.

3. In dividual members were selected by the Senior Investigating Officer as representative of the local community. Onememberof the groupresignedinOctober2008; the remainderof the groupresigned in January 2009.
4. T h e Independent AdvisoryGroupmet regularly, asandwhensuggestedby the Senior Investigating Officer. The groupwassupportedbyPolice staff.
5. T h e Independent Advisory Groupdid not produce reports, but they did raisequestionsandmakecomments.

Serious questions have arisen as to the setting up, terms of reference and support of the Independent Advisory Group but this is no reflection upon the individual members thereof.