Seven hours in custody
Tuesday 7th April 2009, 3:00PM BST.
AFTER emerging from seven hours in custody, Senator Stuart Syvret said that he would sue the police over yesterday’s arrest for alleged breaches of the Data Protection Law relating to his internet blog.
He has accused officers of trying to intimidate him and of searching his home without a warrant. And now he says he plans to sue the police after his arrest over alleged Data Protection offences, saying the arrest and search were ‘illegal and ultra vires’.
The Senator was arrested by officers investigating an alleged breach of the Data Protection Law over information published on his blog.
He was arrested as he walked out of the front door of the Grouville home he shares with his partner, Deputy Carolyn Labey, at 9 am yesterday by a team of eight police officers.
He was released pending further inquiries at around 4 pm.
• Picture: Senator Stuart Syvret pictured outside Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon after his release
• Full report in today’s Jersey Evening Post
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I would love to express an opinion on this and other travesties of Jersey so called justice. I would also be very keen to say how flawed and corrupt major sections of our government and judiciary is. However, I’m too scared of the repercussions and recriminations that come from speaking your mind or having a view that contradicts the ruling elite.
Yet another black day for so called democracy here, following so closely on the heels of our Chief Ministers ringing endorsement of Senator Perchard.
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Perhaps now he will refrain from accusing people of having committed crimes without any evidence which could be upheld in a court of law.
I somehow doubt it because the man always thinks of himself and not what damage his actions cause to others
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Even the most half witted police officer in charge of an arrest is going to make sure he has solid evidence before arresting Jersey’s No. 1 conspiracy theorist – Syvret. I’ll eat the PC I’m sitting at if Syvret actually has a case to sue.
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1. Scared & anonymous
I would love to hear all your evidence for your comments!
I’m sick and tired of hearing people’s ‘conspiracy theories’.
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The police should spend more time chasing murderers and child abusers and less time into chasing bloggers.
They have made themselves look very amateurish and petty.
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Perchard could not conduct himself around S.S….now the entire judiciary have got their collective knickers in a twist around him, what does it say about their coping skills.? that they have to resort to bullying the man just because they can’t hold their own with him,he is making monkeys out of them all,if he blogs some untruths ,so what ..?sue him or accept freedom of speech, anything said about “one” is either right or wrong,if it is right ..then attend to it…if it is wrong ..why react like one and prove it….what is wrong here is the heavy handed over the top some would say abuse of a police force that the taxpayer pays monolithic amounts of money for, who seem all too eager to slavishly mimic the attitude of their feeders.come on Ian,we can do better than this or are we to be nationally ridiculed by Paxman again so soon after the last public fiasco…..Max Clifford help ! where are you..
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Bernard……
Haut de la Garenne????
Conspiracy or mass cover up – take your pick.
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For all those establishment supporters out there. Think on this, how come his blog is still up? Google have a habit of shutting down blogs that are disreputable. Maybe the authorities should ask Google to remove his blog?
If they haven’t why not? Then again maybe they have and Google have ignored them? It would be very interesting to know wouldn’t it?
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You can be sure the police will have done a thorough and professional job in preparing for this arrest. If Mr Syvret’s dramatic account of the arrest and search is as accurate as the stuff he puts on his blog then the police will have nothing to worry about!!!
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They must have had a case – if not he’ll have em for breakfast. No one should undergo 7 hours under arrest unless there is compelling evidence against them ( unless of course they are Man City fans )
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Jersey States Police should be reworded to: Jersey Police State
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…as for the conspiracy theory that “it doesn’t take 8 police to arrest him” as someone knowledgeable has pointed out, aside from requiring sufficient officers to both arrest him, transport him and undertake searches, you would be barking mad as a police officer to have any dealings with Senator Syvret without making sure there were as many witnesses as possible to back up your account.
For too long Syvret has behaved as though being elected has put him above the law, and publishing confidential documents that infringe on an individuals rights to be considered innocent until proven guilty was only the latest of many attempts at intimidating everyone he deals with, inside or outside the States, including unsubstatiated, sensationalist (and frankly nonsensical) allegations against elected and unelected public servants.
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Ade
You seem to be on a personal mission here against SS.(states member by any chance?, police officer? Hmmmm….!)
I will skip your posts in future, they’re getting as bit monotonous
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I said the other week that SS would meet an ‘Accident’ for his outspokeness, So I was almost right!
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Hear, hear Bernard. ‘Scared and anonymous, time to put up or shut up.
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Nice to see the Jersey police state is still functioning. How convenient of them to wait until Deputy Labey and her children were away – they wouldn’t want any witnesses, would they?!!
Don’t these jokers ever stop to consider the bad national publicity this will attract? I suppose they think we are out of the woods now we’ve been removed from the OECD’s blacklist. Big mistake!!
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We must take care and not rush to judgment regarding Senator Stuart Syvret and the police.
The police had a job of work to do and probably kept Senator Stuart Syvret in custody whilst the search was in progress. This more sinister element to all Senator Syvret’s travails, is smoke, mirrors and misinformation.
The two critical questions to be answered are 1) Did Senator Syvret leak restricted information? 2) If not; who initiated the complaint?
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well said truthsayer – pity some people cannot recognise the “truth” and spend their time supporting a spent establishment.
¬to “scared and anonymous” take no notice of the bullyboys, you have your reasons, They don;t know what those reasons are – shows how they are insensitive to a lot of Jersey residents.
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What a happy coincidence to see both these headings next to each other on your site:
“Syvret arrested in police raid”
“Police may soon be armed with stun guns”
I’m sure that the arresting officers would have found some justification for using a stun gun on Stuart Syvret, given that anyone who has been following recent affairs on your septic isle will know that their vendetta against him is personal.
Not that they need any justification when he has all the forces of law and order in Jersey ranged against him.
The whole thing stinks worse than any of the official cover-ups that occur in police states and Banana republics around the world.
It makes me ashamed to even admit that I come from Jersey, when people ask me.
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Its a sad, sad day when events like this take place.
Ennio Morricone would have a field day writing the score to this!!
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the establishment are sending out a clear message. if you stand up and dissent, we will not tolerate it.
syvret clearly is not afraid of authority, but alot of people he has stood up for including child abuse victims are scared, and it would seem for valid reasons.
the police have been successfully brought back under political control, and are once again going about the business of the establishment.
arrest and detention of an opposition politician under dubious legal circumstances … the political dark side.
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Banana republic is too mild an expression for what I am witnessing from abroad.
Your healthminister tells a fellow politician to go slit his wrists and the other guy is sent to prison? For bringing up a case that would have been stuck indefinitely under the carpet it was swept years ago?
What ever happened to all the abused people – or are you now saying nothing ever happened?
Just reading the islanders comments on the crackdown on unruly youths “article” makes you ask for the sickbag. It is indeed a sick culture and not Stuart is damaging your reputation, you are doing it well by yourself.
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I Agree with starfish, how did the authorities know that Sen Syvrets partner had gone away ? perhaps there must be a mole or two in the states chamber, look closer to home stuart,try to think who might have known that Deputy Labey was going to be away, and that you were going to be alone.
Yes the police have dropped a clanger not having a warrant to search the property.
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Congratulations to Senator Syvret for uncovering stories that certainly should be uncovered.
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Come on folks, it’s all a game and if Senator Stuart Syvret truly wants to win then he needs to understand the simplest strategy for game playing – play by the rules.
Unfortunately the rules do not include capitalising on every single opportunity for self-agrandising behaviour, wildly ranting and spewing unsubstantiated allegations, and developing a saviour complex. I’m seriously considering buying the guy a 12′ cross so he can climb up and nail himself to it.
If Sen. Syvret, and his supporters, honestly believe that there is widespread and rampant corruption within the States of Jersey establishment, the Police, or any other governmental organisation then they should work to build support for their views by presenting corroborated evidence of wrongdoing. Perhaps collating this evidence into an ordered, reasonable, logical argument, presented in a readable format, would draw more support.
The incessant, churlish, childish, self-promotion, and ill considered rantings do more to discredit him than the ‘forces of evil’ he finds himself battling against.
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From this side of the water the States is starting to appear to be a Farce. Whose going to be the first one to own up to hiring’unsuitable’ films on thier expenses then? Misterial goverment?
Leave the stupitidy to Westminster. Senator Syvret’s been spending to much time in London.
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i have never read his blog but i will now. Thanks to the police for letting me know he had one.
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Mr.Sensible the authorities know more than you think. I believe there isn’t much they don’t know about anyone over here.
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Now I know why we have a flying banana as our Tourism Logo
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7. TA
And your evidence is? I will have a normal discussion with you once you have presented evidence.
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What’s the more likely reason he was arrested when his partner was away:
A) because of a cover up; to minimise witnesses and because there’s a systematic conspiracy by several government departments and management tiers?
Or the boring but more realistic reason:
B) because it was the right time, i.e. the Police had enough evidence and acted immediately and/or would cause less distress to those not involved i.e. his partner?
I guess option ‘A’ is what your more likely as a headline in the UK’s most popular paper the Sun so guess it must be true. Gee I need to get more excitement in my life and join in!
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he has evidence – thats why the police got him for breaching the data protection act
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I think that poor Stuart was in a muddle and a bit tired having had to do 7 hours work answering questions, he might be able to put it down to research on next conspiracy theory…..
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Annie 23
Uncovering stories now that he should certainly have been aware of during his time as Minister of..
Please get real, covert listening devices??? Parnoia and comedy together in the extreme.
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SteveC 24
Most sensible post so far.
Adrian 27
and your evidence is ?
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If seems very strange that you would get so publicly arrested for apparently a breach of the data protection legislation when the maximum penalty I believe has a £5000 fine with no custodial provision.
Anyway it had the required effect of making the whole Island look stupid, again, in the UK National media.
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#17 Hannah. How can I ‘know what those reasons are’ if no one is willing to explain. I would happily change my view if someone was able to explain what people like ‘Scared and anonymous’ mean by ‘this and other travesties of Jersey’. I know what I believe to be wrong with Jersey but people who talk in riddles like this are consistently unable to provide anything concrete to back up their vague claims. All I need is a few concrete examples. Any takers?
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Did somebody say “witch hunt”? So, so sad that the powers that be feel the need to impose such unwarrented behaviour.
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Phil, one reason why the police cannot use PPCE to justify a search is because the maximum penalty is indeed a fine.
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PJG and what is your evidence that they don’t?
SteveC” Perhaps collating this evidence into an ordered, reasonable, logical argument, presented in a readable format, would draw more support.”
No to GST had much support but it fell on deaf ears. In my opinion if someone doesn’t want to listen they won’t, therefore it doesn’t matter what you say does it?
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29. Bernard
I’m sure all your evidence to the contrary is just as circumstantial and based on supposition as mine.
I’m sure all the investigations and forensics weren’t conducted on a whim.
Jersey politics is amatuerish, and very ‘old boys network’. It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of fantasy for an element of corruption and cover up to exist.
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Dictatorship is key here, this is a mini Zimbabwe.
This is the one person that will fight for the people of Jersey and they will try their hardest to bring him down. The truth is out there but who be brave enough to join him
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Throw the Key at Him
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Groove #41
To call Jersey a “mini Zimbabwe” is absolutely ridiculous. Such a comment demonstrates you are either incredibly naive or just ungrateful when realising how lucky you are.
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Some interesting comments here from several camps!!. There is no doubt,that the Police, would have obtained legal advice prior to furthering their enquiries,ie arresting the Senator. May I suggest that it would, as he is an elected member of the government, be appropriate to have an arrest team and a search team present. I have not seen any photo’s of the condition that his property was left in, post search, either taken on his mobile phone(as we all seem to have a camera on them)or indeed from the JEP at his invitation.So yet again more unsubstantiated waffle from him about the Police’s conduct in this matter. I have voted for him in years gone by,but, his actions over recent years have led me to doubt his suitability to hold office within the Islands government . “Lost the plot “certainly springs to mind.
If the Islands Data Protection Officer believes that he has broken the Law by naming someone , not subject of charge,on his blogg then surely , even he must realise that he will get a visit from the Police, on their terms NOT his. Surely there are other lawful avenues open to the Senator to get the investigation re-examined, if he believed foul play was suspected.
It’s about time you grew up and started acting in an appropriate and professional manner for which I as a tax payer, pay you to do!!!
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Will he get the extra-ordinary rendition treatment? If its good enough for the biggest democracy….
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If Senator Syvret is complaining solely on the way in which this arrest has been made but not at all over the allegations of guilt then we can, i assume that this will be quite an easy “Guilty” verdict when it reaches court.
Can we assume that this is why we are seeing such a concentrated attack on the manner of the arrest? In the hope that an error can be found in his arrest and the case can be thrown out of court?
My question then would be; If Senator Syvret would have been found guilty but the case doesn’t go to court because his lawyers can find a flaw in the officers methods, does he suddenly become not guilty of the crime he is charged with?
If a member of the establishment was making this attempt to have their case removed from court could we expect Senator Syvret to be writing on his blog of yet another States cover up?
I know how the police work in Jersey and it seems the Senator has a few flaws in his judgement. I would expect that, although he never took any photos of the state of the house after the police had completed their search, it is normal practice that the police themselves have. Once SS is aware that there is more evidence against his conspiracy theories I’m sure this will be another allegation that is dropped.
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Sadly Jersey’s ability to overact to every incident now makes it look ever foolish globally.If Senator Syvret had committed any offence then deal with it in a professional manner and be without reproach.The Jersey old boys network,in a rather female manner,always becomes over-emotional rather than logical.Probably due to the lack of excellent and stabilising role models of the past including Gynweth Huelin,Iris Le Feuvre and Enid Quenault.A too male orienated establishment ,without any female intuitiave skills usually ends in this chaos.Me thinks too much power mad testosterone at the moment and too many egos.!
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What about the “data protection” of any correspondence or information from the general public which SS may have had on the property at the time of the search and which may now be in the hands of the police. How would this information be treated,Im confused.
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Nannie P
Police are protected unless they spread that information around
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TA – “Haut de la Garenne – Conspiracy or mass cover up – take your pick”. Aren’t they the same thing??
When asked for evidence to support your argument, you can’t just make another unsubstantiated statement.
It is not for people like Bernard to come up with evidence to show that there has been no conspiracy. Its for people like you and Syvret, who are making the allegations, to do so.
I for one am fed up of this conspiracy rubbish. Not once has Syvret made public any of his so called evidence to back up the allegations he makes. Totally agree with the Busdriver. This man is a waste of tax payers money.
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Adrian 34
you are making the allegation, a serious one.
I know it is your usual stance to answer a question with a question but that usually means you don’t know or cant prove it, which is it this time.
I think reading 1984 has had too much influence on you. Please remember, no matter how stimulating it is a work of fiction. Its not what happens in the real world with real human beings.
You should read animal farm next, even more stimulating.
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PJG do you honestly think the authorities know nothing about you and I? Yes or No?
You beat me to it. Animal Farm is another great read, shame not many realise what it is really about!
I have noticed that yesterday’s science fiction has a habit of becoming science fact. You only need to look at the Origional Star Trek to see this. However as I have noticed many tend to believe what they are told.
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