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2015.09.08
4.1 Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding arrests made in relation to Operation Whistle:
Can I thank Members and those involved for the accommodation? Could the Minister please inform Members how many arrests have been made in relation to Operation Whistle and state whether any allegations have been made against former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, which relate to his time in the Island and whether any investigations are taking place in this regard
Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Peter (The Minister for Home Affairs):
There have been 4 arrests arising from the Operation Whistle investigation and 2 further voluntary interviews have been conducted with individuals subject to allegations of abuse. The States of Jersey Police have received one allegation made against the former Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath that took place in Jersey. This is being investigated jointly with the Wiltshire Constabulary, which has been appointed as the lead force. The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry has been kept apprised of all developments.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
Could the Minister give more information about the allegation that has been made in Jersey about the former named Prime Minister and when this was made in particular and whether that resulted ... it is a new allegation since Operation Whistle was set up?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
I am afraid that, as Members will appreciate, this is an operational matter and I do not have operational responsibility for the police and those are merely details that I do not have in my remit, and I am unable to answer that question.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
It seems to me that we know that parallel investigations are going on in the U.K. (United Kingdom) and if I understand correctly it was really as a result of those investigations in the U.K. that this Operation Whistle was opened up. Can the Minister state why the investigation seems to have been relatively low profile if the police should be encouraging members of the public who might have been here at the time to come forward and give evidence, surely the publicity surrounding this case, at least locally, should be of a much more high profile nature?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
I think the operation has been relatively high profile, particularly over the summer, and in response to the publicity that has been nationwide in relation to Operation Hydrant.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
Will the Minister confirm again in this public forum, as we have seen, I think, in the U.K. both from the police and perhaps from other individuals that there is an investigation going on. Anybody who has information about any high or low profile individuals who were in Jersey at the time of Sir Edward Heath and who may have information relating to any of that kind of nefarious activity should come forward and they will be given full support both by the Minister for Home Affairs and the Jersey Police?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
That is entirely the case. When this unit was established there were initially 6 members of staff placed in the unit. That staff quickly increased to 8 just to deal with the sheer volume of work that was coming forward. So Operation Whistle is very much an active piece of work that is being conducted by the States of Jersey Police and every allegation that is brought to them is taken very seriously.