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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY SENATOR B.E. SHENTON
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 18th JULY 2011
Question
Given the revelations in respect of journalistic practises of the News of the World, coupled with the disclosure that a journalist from the newspaper was entertained at a top London restaurant at the height of the Haut de la Garenne investigation by the then Deputy Chief Officer, is the Minister satisfied that all future dealings with the media will be handled in a professional manner. Does he have any evidence to show whether any underhand practices were undertaken by the News of the World when investigating the Haut de la Garenne allegations?
Answer
I am very concerned that the News of the World is referred to twice in the independent reports which I have received in relation to the Haut de la Garenne investigation.
The first occasion was on the morning of the day on which the first press conference was held by the then Deputy Chief Officer and Senior Investigating Officer. On that morning, 23 February 2008, a News of the World photographer was found in the bushes at Haut de la Garenne. In my view, there must have been some leak of information to that newspaper prior to that date.
However, much more concerning is the incident referred to which took place on 1 May 2008 when a female News of the World reporter, together with a number of police officers who were involved with the case were entertained by the then Deputy Chief Officer and Senior Investigating Officer at an expensive London restaurant at a cost of £699.00. It is very concerning that subsequently a female reporter from the News of the World produced an article which made references a) to "HELLFIRE Jersey Homes dossier to reveal children were murdered . then burnt" and b) to "a SHOCK secret police report into the Jersey House of Hell Children's Home reveals youngsters there WERE murdered then BURNED in a furnace to COVER UP the atrocities". The report then goes on to reveal various details which are very likely to have been provided by a Police Officer or Officers. The full text of the Article is duplicated on a number of websites.
I am satisfied that the current leadership of the States of Jersey Police acts and will act in a proper and professional manner in relation to its dealings with the press.
However, I can never exclude the possibility of individual Police Officers improperly leaking information to the press.
I do not have any evidence of underhand practices being undertaken by the News of the World in relation to the Haut de la Garenne investigation but doubt as to whether this would have been necessary in the light both of the nature of police press conferences and other provision of confidential information which characterised the early stages of this investigation.