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10.05.16
3.2 (9428) Deputy M.R. Higgins of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the disappearance of Adrian Lynch:
Will the Minister provide an update on the latest information she has relating to the disappearance of Adrian Lynch?
Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Peter (The Minister for Home Affairs):
This is a case that has clearly caught the attention of every Islander, and I am grateful to the Deputy for maintaining the profile of this important case, and particularly among us, as most Members of the Assembly are parents themselves. I am sure we all want to remind Adrian's family how much we sympathise with them and express how we wish that after 5 terrible months of agony their pain could be eased by finding this young man, and answering the many questions they must have. I understand that the police have investigated all known feasible links of inquiry in relation to Adrian's disappearance. I am advised that the search for Adrian has generated over 560 investigative actions and more than 1,000 people have been spoken to, and nearly 250 witness statements have been recorded. This remains a live police investigation and 2 police officers are continuing to work full time on the case in order to ensure completeness and to make certain that no potentially relevant information has been overlooked. I understand that an internal review of documentation linked directly to the search is also nearing its completion for the purpose of addressing any vulnerability that might exist in the significantly resource intensive search phase of the operation. I am advised that there is still no credible indication of third party involvement or criminality, although the police remain alert to that possibility and are ready to respond to any new information that comes forward. The police also intend to issue a fuller update on the investigation in the coming days and it is hoped that Adrian's disappearance will remain high in the public's consciousness.
- Deputy M.R. Higgins:
I would like to thank the Minister for Home Affairs for her answer. If I could just elaborate on one part of it. I know that it was stated that the police investigation was externally reviewed by a partner agency or outside police force and a number of recommendations were made. Could she tell us what those recommendations were, whether they were accepted by the States of Jersey Police, and implemented and if not, why not?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
The Deputy is correct that 2 reviews have taken place from the National Crime Agency and the College of Policing. The police, I understand, have considered all recommendations in the context of local and detailed knowledge of our own officers and I am aware that most were implemented or are being implemented in some form. For the minority of recommendations that have not been implemented, the rationale has been recorded by the police as to why this is the case.
- Deputy M.R. Higgins:
The answer, obviously the unknown, I would hope that the Minister will tell us what those recommendations were and why they were not adopted by the police, and then we can rest assured that everything is being done. Can the Minister also assure us that there are no financial reasons for not continuing the search?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
Let us start with the finances first. So far I am aware that the case has cost just in the region of £182,000 and that no additional funds have been requested to date. Purely because of the nature of the police's work there is always some case that requires a greater resource than another during the year, and so their budget allows for them to take account of that work and to be able to deal with it as and when it arises, because obviously we never know what is going to come before them. Then, for the second part of the question, which was the first point. I am afraid that I am going to have to give the answer that the Deputy will not want to hear but we often have this conversation. As the Deputy knows, I have political responsibility for the police but no operational control. It would be quite improper if I were to direct the police in any way, so therefore he might have to take up the first part of this question with the Chief of Police.