Syvret raid: ‘I felt violated’

Wednesday 22nd April 2009, 3:00PM BST.

DSC_9809DEPUTY Carolyn Labey has attacked the States police for raiding her home during the arrest of Senator Stuart Syvret.

She says that it was unlawful and unnecessary. In a strongly worded statement, the Deputy said that she felt violated by the search and added that her elderly mother had found the raid more hostile than the Blitz.

The Deputy’s criticism comes just weeks after States police arrested Senator Syvret on suspicion of data protection offences and searched the house in Grouville which he shares with his partner, Deputy Labey (pictured). Senator Syvret was released later that day, pending further inquiries.

Deputy Labey, who was on holiday abroad with her children at the time of the raid, condemned the police action as over the top. She said: ‘I struggle to find words for the shock, upset and sense of violation felt by my family and myself at what has happened.’

• Full report in today’s Jersey Evening Post


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  1. 1
    Big Bean

    My dear old grandmother is also a survivor of the Blitz. On her behalf I can quite catogorically state that being arrested and having ones’s house searched is nothing like the death, destruction and sheer horrors experienced by those who suffered through the Blitz.

    This comparison is offensive to those who lived and died through the Blitz and almost as ridiculous as Syvret’s comparison of Jersey to North Korea.

    Maybe this is where he gets it from!

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  2. 2
    Nioleux

    Feelings are subjective. If that is how Mrs Labey felt at the time, who are we to pass judgment?

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  3. 3
    truthseeker

    This is the whole point many are missing,even if Deputy Labey emphasizes the effect on her relative,the point is we can not support the cops intimidating anyone excessively just because some of us are found to be annoying,can’t you see where this kind of “One law for them and another for us” thing leads.it is very dangerous,posting irritated comments like “We are a joke” are very sad, it is anything but a joke and some constructive action from us is required,if you are unhappy with the situation,call your Senator or Deputy at home and ask to know what they are doing about it,they can’t put you in jail for asking…yet can they…?

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  4. 4
    Spring Heeled Jack

    My grandparents also lived through the London blitz. From their stories I would much rather have my house searched by the police than spend the night cowering in a damp air raid shelter whilst death and destruction rained down from above.
    Drama queen alert.

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  5. 5
    arthur smith

    Perhaps she should have chosen her partner better….he deserves all he gets given the lack of concern he seems to have for people he names on his blog

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  6. 6
    Shaun

    Here Here, quite agree…………..its about time that these people get a grip on reality. People get arrested all the time, get their house searched, and do we ever hear from them bleeting on about it – NO!
    And to add to that, with all the moaning and groaning about the Police…………the majority of times when Police act in such cases, they are acting on behalf of someone( just like me and you) who have approached THEM with a complaint. Now lets wait and see exactly how the Police acted unlawfully…..because as ususal they are in a position were they cannot comment. Take a step back and look at the good work that they do, and then think about all the negative stuff that we just hear about……..it is a thankless job that they do, and I for one would rather leave it to them to get on with. And who are we to say it was over the top ” Oh look they had 8 Police Officers”…………….how do we know what they have to do / procedures under these circumstances. I am sick to the back teeth of reading from people who like to comment on situations that they know nothing about. And YES I ( probably like most of you)know little about what they have to do and the details of this incident, so I will make my own assumption of how things were handled when and if details are released – until then its just pure mud slinging.

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  7. 7
    John

    Big Bean I think you have these utterly offensive propaganda merchants well and truely summed up. It’d be a pleasure I’m sure, to read an honest and objective account from Ms Labey’s mother which I’ve little doubt would be corroborated by any future police account once that ‘day in court’ finally arrives. The police would never have waded into this situation without the most strenuous consideration of the consequences. A prolific use of the word ‘ransacked’ has punctuated many a posting of SS’s ….does he and his entourage really expect the public to believe that the boys in blue would not have policied, documented and photograped the state of the address both before and after the search in anticipation of the sensationalism that this undesirable clan seeks to hoodwink it electorate with??….wake up SS!

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  8. 8
    James

    Perhaps if Senator Syvret had not released confidential documents the house would not have been raided. Sorry but I have little sympathy.

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  9. 9
    parry gashley

    Well well Deputy Labey, you’ve certainly nailed your colours to the mast….and I’d suggest, all on the basis of extremely dubious hearsay. Hmmmm..the truth will out most emphatically and so too will the confidence of the electorate when time comes to put a cross in that box again; only yours I believe, as with that of Mr Syvret’s will be a little emptier if you continue to represent on such unsubstantiated grounds. Big Bean’s and John’s comments for starters, underlines that!

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  10. 10
    yevilo

    Big Bean

    Are we understand your dear old Grandmother has been unlawfully been Arrested and her House searched for her to make a comparision?

    Another sweeping ill informed Judgement yet again made against Senator Syvret.

    Oh Dear he does Rattle alot of cages !!!!

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  11. 11
    sanity

    Big bean – The comment is not directed towards the victims of these countries but is intended to insult and hurt as far as possible the Jersey “establishment”. These blogs are read by many overseas peoples and especially those doing a bit of research before doing business here. If we can stop that business Jersey will suffer financially and it will be the rich oligarchy who will be hurt the most. Yes there will other victims like the pensioners and those on welfare but this is war and these will be casualties. Many people die each day in places like North Korea but as they are not allowed to read the internet, the punishment I believe is the death penalty for the perpetrator and there entire family, children, parents and even friends and neighbours, they are not going to read this anyway. Just because Senator Syvret asked to be arrested and was not tortured does not lessen his sacrifice or make our oligarchy any better than all the other evil and vile dictatorships that exist in the world today. Modern warfare is run by propaganda and conspiracy theory is the best of all as it cannot be disproved.

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  12. 12
    kate

    I agree Big Bean. What a strange statement to make. To compare a Police search to the Blitz makes one wonder what sort of war her mother lived through and how!Ok so the house was searched so what! if you have nothing to hide why such fear and indignation. Is this family abouve the law because it happens to be occupied by two states members.Everyone is rushing to lawyers in this situation however would it not be more prudent to wait for the results. Certain peole could end up with a lot of egg on their faces and I have a feeling it maynot be the Police.A total insult to those who lived through the war years I fear.

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  13. 13
    J G

    With all due respect Big Bean does your grandmother have a comparison to make with the situation Deputy Labeys mother found herself in?
    In the Blitz, everybody was in the same boat and pulled together.
    In this instance an elderly lady found police swarming over her daughters property, searching her grandchildren’s bedrooms with no prior notice or reason being given. Enough to alarm anybody.
    The Jersey Police State would have had a lot to answer for if this had caused the poor lady to suffer from a heart attack.

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  14. 14
    Adam

    What self-important opinionated twaddle!

    Maybe she now has a feeling of what it must be like to be on the receiving end of one of Syvret’s “campaigns for justice”.

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  15. 15
    Mark

    Never mind struggling for words to describe the violation of a house search, i’m struggling to comprehend the never ending stream of utter garbage that comes from the majority of our elected house these days!

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  16. 16
    Mistershifter

    This is exactly what was always going to happen. Police action of this nature, at a well known outspoken political ‘commentators’ abode (regardless of the evidence or lack of it). What did all involved expect? SS has and will handle all forms of media coverage well. There is no such thing as bad publicity, however it comes about!

    Well the media circus is now in full spin, as all the above post and other associated threads have shown.

    Whatever the outcome it has raised some serious questions about Police procedure, the use of internet ‘blogs’ and acceptable levels of political and public commenting.

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  17. 17
    InAnger

    If this happened in the UK there would be people banging on the door of No 10 demanding to know why a private property was searched without a warrant, Why, when the owner of the property was away her permission to carry out such a searh was not requested and the most serious crime of all why an Elderly Lady had her right of privicy invaded by the Police. This barbaric action was more endemic in Soviet Russia when it was run by the KGB.

    Shame on all of you who agree with this action, we live in the 21st century. Does no-one have any rights on Jersey.

    The poster who related to investors, I know for a fact some have allready started to withdraw their investments from the island.

    Your tourist industry is finished and your finance industry will not be far behind,

    Who is to blame, not the good people of Jersey- the Establishment and those who support their stupidity are ressponsible for Shafting your Island Internationally on a regular basis.

    Deputy Labey my heart goes out to your mother and your family – you should never have been subjected to such invasion of privacy and I hope that you will take this further. No doubt you have not been furnished with a list of what items were taken from your home and you are the innocent victims.

    Stuart Syvret is one of the few eleted representatives on your Island who is prepared to stand up and be counted. That is what he is paid to do, work for his electorate and in doing so I am more than sure he is working for more than his own constituents. He is to be admired not mocked, sadly too many who post on here seem to be dummies for the Establishment and cannot see further than the end of their nose.

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  18. 18
    Gross Misconduct

    Mark, I could say the same about the majority of posters on this story

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  19. 19
    sean

    get a life jersey!! he,s the best man for the job. you only concerned for ya fortune and ya money and ya life enriching whatever!!! truth hurts eh!!!

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  20. 20
    Ade

    To Deputy Labey

    What about those people her egotistical partner has accused of the most vile crimes whilst he remains safe behind the protection of

    1) Accusing persons who cannot afford legal representation outside legal aid (because defamation is not covered by legal aid)

    2) that SS is so impoverished that no-one will sue SS in any case,

    Get a life!

    SS the great intellect (sic) has borrowed from Sun Tzu and has picked his enemies carefully

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  21. 21
    Big Bean

    No. That grandmother was never arrested nor did she have her house searched, but my other grandmother had her house searched several times during the occupation by german soldiers. A most umpleasant experience she tells me, however the difference being that no-one in her property had allegedly broken the law.

    However, despite that I can still verify that having had several conversations with both grandmothers, I stand by my original statement that given the choice of the 2, I’d rather have my house searched than be bombed and nearly killed.

    I’m sorry for Mrs Labey and I am sure that this was an unpleasant experience for her, perhaps she needs to keep better company in future to avoid a similar experience from happening again.

    as for Deputy Labey, I fear she will see the effects of her actions next election time.

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  22. 22
    truthseeker

    Losing focus here guys,several politicians have fallen foul of data protection issues, but none of them were raided in such a dramatic way which was intended to scare off and intimidate,either you believe in Freedom of speech for which so many have sacrificed and died for or you don’t ..and if you don’t..be scared..be very very scared…as it is the Europeans are wanting to remove Habeus Corpus..if yoou are so incensed by what SS writes on his Blog. 1. don’t read it …and 2. don’t go on about it you are giving him masses of publicity then moaning about it……..?

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  23. 23
    Rothwem

    Deputy Labey says she felt “violated”! – pretty strong words when she was on holiday at the time and not even there.

    I imagine that the man who was named as a serial killer on Senator Syvret’s website without the benefit of a fair trial probably feels pretty hard done by as well.

    I’m pretty sure none of us would like the hassle and inconvenience of a dawn raid from the Old Bill but comparing it to the Blitz is like describing Jersey as North Korea in the English Channel I suppose…

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  24. 24
    JULIE

    From the article above (I haven’t seen the entire article as I do not have access to the full JEP)Deputy Labey said that her mother found the raid “more hostile” than the blitz.Some commenters seem to have miread or misinterpreted that sentence.
    From what I have read and heard from friends living in Jersey the police would be better employed sorting out youth and drug crime as it seems to be escalating rapidly since I left three years ago (and it was bad enough then!)

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  25. 25
    Peter

    Sanity, are you Syvret in disguise? This guy deserves all he gets!

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  26. 26
    Nellie Macon

    Well done Deputy Labey for speaking out – you have my sympathies.

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  27. 27
    My View

    Violated eh, well as an ex- law enforcement officer that word was used usually by victims of a serious crime. From the news article, you were not even on the Island, let alone in the house at the time of the raid.

    I cannot believe that this is still dragging on. I understand that Politicians will always hide behind the fact that they leaked information as it was their public duty to let the votrs know what is or is not happening. A breach of data protection is a breach no matter how you attempt to justify it, and the penalties are there for all to see. Please don’t lose sight of this with saying that Jersey’s PACE law was used, and this was unlawful, it was not – by the way I am not an ex Jersey Police Officer, but I do look at the facts before I write.

    Glad that neither are Politicians where I live!

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  28. 28
    O.T.T.

    Julie’s comment is spot on – the reaction of the Island’s finest to Stuart Syvret’s alleged crime, was disproprtionate. The cops would be far better employed on fighting crimes that impact on people’s health and welfare, rather than some technical offence to do with Data Protection. Would it not be more appropriate for the Data Protection Registrar to have investigated this alleged of the law?

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  29. 29
    R B Bougourd

    We seem to be losing track of the fundamental issue here.

    Which is: Why was it necessary for the raid to take place at all?

    This is likely to get forgotten if we are not vigilant. Those who should have to come forward with an explanation will be only too glad of all this distraction.

    If people are going to get distracted dicussing the accuracy of figures of speech relating to the blitz, the original justification for the raid may become overlooked.

    I imagine that the police wanted to know how Syvret got hold of the confidential document.

    Do you think Stuart broke into PHQ and stole it?
    Perhaps they want to know who leaked it.

    One thing is certain – he couldn’t have made it up!

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  30. 30
    Rozel Aubin

    #20 Ade wrote:

    “…SS is so impoverished that no-one will sue SS in any case”

    So that’s what suing is all about – making some jolly old money!

    There was me thinking it was about putting the record straight.

    Of course, I should have known better, especially in life enriching Jersey.

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  31. 31
    Welcometothejungle

    Her grandmother must have had very relaxed blitz.

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  32. 32
    Jo

    I total agree with Sean and Truthseeker.
    Peter get a life he is the only man in the States that stands up for the people of Jersey and there is a secret in the States that is he trying to tell everyone and the members don’t like it.

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  33. 33
    FOO FOO L,AMOUR

    Jersey is run like a communist state!theres no doubt about it. Why Senator Syvret should be persecuted by the majority constantly is quite alarming.Why should anyone living here be forced to fit in with the “click”! have to purchase a vehicle at a certain garage have to be “luvvys” in a certain magazine & frequent the typical social circles that are quite frankly stomach turning to some.We are after all “supposedly” living in a democracy where freedom of speech is acceptable.
    However there is nothing democratic in being silenced & indeed existing in a culture of “fear” which dictates that all must conform to a certain idealisim or suffer the consequences.There is no smoke without fire as the saying goes & all though i cannot comment directly on this incedent its important to let people have the freedom that they are entitled to & not be afraid to stand up to the face of corruption and an apparent “regime” of conformity!

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  34. 34
    TBM

    Disgraceful comments from Deputy Labey.

    As I live in Grouville I was already thinking of not voting for her next time around due to the bad company she keeps but these inflammatory and disrespectful rantings have made up my mind.

    If she doesn’t want the police in her house she should not harbour people who publish confidential documents then goad the police into arresting them (you’ll never take me alive copper!) all to satisfy their never-ending hunger for self-publicity. Like I say – bad company.

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  35. 35
    GRANDFARE

    Senator Syvret & labeys fight for a true democracy is a worthwhile cause.
    An island of “MONEY MATTERS” & low social morals is a path to destruction, where the emphasis focuses on “MONEY” which creates a society of unrest generated by the great divide of the haves & have nots. This in turn generates hate & resentment & the constant strive of having the misery of trying to “keep up” similar to a playground scenario of Billys got designer trainers & poor Jonnys got some bargain basement sneakers thus paving the way for a feeling of inadequacy which persists through adult life resulting in a life of MISERY. To senator Syvret & partner, I see where you are coming from,trying to create a fair & “just system” must come before all respects of the ever important obssesion of financial gain ever present in this island.

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  36. 36
    SteveC

    It seems like a day doesn’t pass without people’s attention being diverted from the REAL issues of the day by Mr. Syvret and his ilk. Is it little wonder that so little is accomplished in Jersey politics when you see the vast amounts of time wasted by this raving lunatic.

    Where are we with the changes to our employment law? Depositor protection? Affordable housing? Improving Health Services? Growing the economy?

    Nowhere, because we have to keep switching our focus to poor old Stuart every time he feels he is not getting enough attention.

    Never before have thse words rung more true:

    Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve – George Bernard Shaw

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  37. 37
    Jersey Bull

    Judging from some of the above comments that have been posted on these various forums, it is easy to see that where passion so often clouds reason, it might be safe for one to assume that in order for anyone to know whether or not their principles, values and creeds may be perceived and held as true, rational and consistent, most people, like it or not, will either need a rational philosophy of sorts, or some kind of fundamental religious belief based upon faith in a Divine Authority. The only choice one has in the matter, is that the understanding of their philosophy, faith or creed is something that is clearly defined by way of a conscious disciplined process of sound examination and careful deliberation, or whether their general understanding is simply something that has been left to chance, by subconsciously gathering a pile of second hand conclusions, unsupportable generalisations, chartless whims, half-truths and hollow slogans, all of which, appear to have been randomly and emotionally bundled together into what can only end up as an ever growing burden of crippling self doubt for those holding them – none of which can offer any validity to the clear objective purpose of the discussion – so let’s try to lift it up to a more wholesome level of reasoned, rather than emotive, debate.

    Whether or not one likes or agrees with what the Senator has to say, as people of good will, we should all be prepared to stand together and defend his right to say it. The issue, as stated before, is not about Senator Syvret, his philosophy, political leanings, his unpleasant manners or necessarily about his actual arrested. The issue that should concern everyone is the Statute/Law and the way in which it was written, enacted and then executed upon the Senator (or anyone else for that matter) during his arrest and search. What is currently at stake, concerns everyone’s Civil Liberties, and the very fact that our liberties are under attack by being stealthily dismantled from within and then advanced by States Members who have, on a regular basis, failed to protect our FREEDOMS while sleepily enacting dozens of new and unnecessary Statutes and Laws through the Assembly without ever thoroughly considering their consequences.

    Either gone, severely curtailed or greatly diminished under the pretext of fighting terrorism, crime or any other overrated excuse employed to frighten people, is the freedom from Arbitrary Arrest, the full Right to Silence, Protection against forced Self Incrimination, Presumption of Innocence, Rights in Custody, Double Jeopardy, the right to be free from any Unreasonable Search and Seizure, Security of Property, the right to know the Evidence and Accusations made against the person or human being, the right to full Privacy, Privacy in Communications, the undermining of the Confidentiality in Medical Records, the Confidentially of Financial Records. Further diminished and or severely curtailed is the right to Free Speech, Free Self Expression and any form of Expression that causes neither injury, harm nor loss to another, Freedoms from Unwarranted Surveillance, Association, Peaceful Protest and Free Movement. Finally, if history repeats itself and the EU dictatorship under German influence gets its way via the Lisbon Treaty, we will soon loose the right to Habeas Corpus and a Trial By Jury of our peers – so marvel not that there may be some who still wish to retain the right to responsibly own and bare arms!

    For the benefit of those who constantly come up with the same tired argument for an action they consider to be “reasonable” when citing “Reasonable Cause” under Law as opposed to “Probable Cause”. Let me say that no-one should be the least bit interested in how you or your associates choose to interpret or consider to be held as “reasonable” – The word ‘reasonable’ has broad interpretive parameters and as such, is wide open to judicial abuse, especially when it is solely employed by senior, MATRIX trained, police officers in the procurement of a warrant. Therefore, every citizen and human being on this dear Island, should be able to safely rest assured knowing that any “Search and or Seizure” carried out by the police becomes totally “Unreasonable” when the Warrant for that search and seizure has been issued WITHOUT first providing Evidence to Show nothing less than “PROBABLE CAUSE“ rather than stealthily relying upon a catchall form such as “Reasonable Cause”! Only upon evidence showing “Probable Cause” does such an action become “reasonable”. As this may not be the way in which the law is currently understood in the Island today, then changes should immediately be enacted to start clawing back the many Freedoms that our States Members have so ignorantly and brutally discarded over the past ten years. A free society under common law threatens no one. Thank you.

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  38. 38
    Julia

    I suppose we all had to expect Deputy Labey to make political capital out of this. Adam (14) sums up what many of us are thinking. Our choice of partner is one of the most important choices we will ever make – Deputy Labey has chosen appallingly badly, and is beginning to reap the consequences. You reap what you sow, Deputy Labey. I hear already there is stirrings of a very good challenger to her in Grouville in 2011.

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  39. 39
    The Thinker

    Although Deputy Labey’s words about the blitz may be a little ill chosen, I feel she and her mother are correct in asserting that their family home has been violated. Officers of the “law” entering, searching and rifling through their possesions without so much as a warrant. I totally agree with the comments that this was a disproportionate action by our law enfocement officers.

    As for Senator Syvret’s alleged transgressions, I am sure everyone must agree that a strong democracy demands a strong opposition. Unfortunately, we only have the much talked about Senator Syvret to keep his very own brand of opposition. However anyone may feel about his methods, he has the knack of generating debate on a plethora of issues.
    We, as an electorate should demand that the individuals we elect to represent us, are not permitted to sit on their laurels and scratch each others backs.

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  40. 40
    Marie

    As Deputy Labey was not even present at her house I cannot see how she feels ‘violated’. I hope that if this happened to my house I would be blaming the actions of my partner in order to protect my children. It is SS who has caused this upset for her family, she should be blaming him.
    The public seem very quick to blame the police, it is this lack of respect for the force which causes many of the issues with crime today. How can we expect our teenagers to respect the law when so many adults are criticising the police? Perhaps we should all wait for the outcome, as I for one do not pretend to know the law well enough to be able to criticise the polices actions.

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  41. 41
    Bernard

    33.FOO FOO L’AMOUR

    When was the last time you lived in a communist state? If you are so afraid from living in the island, then I suggest you go live somewhere else!

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  42. 42
    Bernard

    32. Jo

    And what exactly is this secret? I still can’t believe that anyone is still supporting SS.

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  43. 43
    Ben

    FOO FOO L,AMOUR
    What the hell you on about the “Click” this must be a figment of your imagination, because I do what I want when I want and never felt that I had to act a certain way to “fit in” in Jersey, everybody else I know enjoys the same freedoms that we can act upon thanks to the way Jersey is. I think your message says more about your own lack of self confidence and success than the society of Jersey.
    Maybe you should look more within yourself as to why you feel the way you do about Jersey rather than blaming everyone else.
    Some of you people who support SS sound like a right bunch of …..

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  44. 44
    Adrian

    Like I keep saying if you ain’t happy with Stuart’s blog don’t whine on about it! Get it shut down, if it is telling lies. Google are awaiting your call. The truth will prevail….

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  45. 45
    gary

    Frankly, I am appalled by the lack of sensitivity and compassion for Mrs Labey shown by many of you. You may scoff when she says that she found the experience of having her house raided by police more traumatic than living through the London blitz, but I recall the experience of my grandmother, who was here during the occupation, harboured a young Russian slave for several weeks with the fear of her and her family being caught and deported. However, she always said that the most traumatic event of her life occurred at the hands of a Canadian Immigration officer, who grilled her for two hours, reducing her to tears, made her count out her money before him, and then sign forms stating she wouldn’t work or teach English during her stay in Canada. She was 83 years old and in a wheelchair at the time, and visiting 3 generations of family. It was a deeply traumatic experience for such an elderly woman, she became seriously ill as a result, and from then on, could never bring herself to travel again.
    At least she received a written apology from the Canadian Immigration authorities for the over- zealousness of their Officer.

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  46. 46
    Carl

    40. Marie
    Return home to find that it has been trashed by burglars and I’m guessing you’ll feel violated whether you were there at the time or not. Same principle.

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  47. 47
    FOO FOO L,AMOUR

    For the benefit of Bernard & Ben.
    I have lived in Russia & Poland and have so much confidence that im living like a king due to this fact.
    Im extremely handsome & my wife is stunning plus the car house etc plus all my freinds are of the female kind, take it from a man women are the superior sex. You will have to take it from me but as far as confidence is concerned im right up there at number one!!!
    I hope this letter is printed as my freedom of speech. kind regards:-)

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  48. 48
    Roger's trousers

    What does “feeling violated” actually mean? I’m surprised Adrian, our resident Orwell expert, hasn’t commented that it is an meaningless cliche, a form of stock response that shows a lack of thought. All the references to North Korea etc are the product of the same lack of logical thought.

    The fact is, if you didn’t enjoy the Blitz, why are you sharing living space with somebody who has set up a blog, the sole purpose of which is to indiscriminately bombard and make life miserable for those who are unable to defend themselves.

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  49. 49
    Terry

    Marie
    absolutly spot on. If SS has broken the law then there is no reason why the police actions should be questioned. I have read the PPACE law and the police acted lawfully whether SS agrees with it or not. It was a law that was debated and voted in whilst he was in the States!
    Two other polititans have also been charged recently just because they don’t agree with the law. Its about time these people realised that they are not above the law. Do you think the Magistrate would take kindly to this defence for minor motoring offences, I don’t think so!
    Dissagreeing with the law is no defence and getting back to Marie’s point its no wonder the youths have the attitude they do.
    To all those who support SS have you actually read his blog! Clearly nothing more than the rantings of someone who has completly lost the plot!

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  50. 50
    Leah Holmes

    Gary, I have to agree. We are not to judge how the woman felt (if that is what she said) and ‘hostile’ is very specific… she didn’t say ‘worse than’ just ‘more hostile’ I think we can safely guess that if asked which situation was altogether worse then the blitz woul win hands down so there’s little point getting so upset about it. The people I know who survived the blitz (including my dad) have very different feelings about it depending on their age at the time, where they were and who they were with.

    And the only time I have been burgled I also used the word ‘violated’… and yes, unfortunately I have plenty of terrible experiences to put such a situation into perspective. I would feel the same, possibly even worse, about a police search, since they would search even more thoroughly. Which doesn’t mean I have anything to hide, but people going through your private things is just horrible. If you personally have committed a crime then it is something you have to live with, but if you haven’t then a search of your home will be very disturbing.

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  51. 51
    Gary

    I fully support the police actions. Syvret’s actions against some people on his blog is disgusting and the people who support him obviously do not believe in the saying “innocent until proven guilty”. If he has broken data protection law which is supposed to be there to safe guard us all against things like this then the police have every right to do what they did. The tide has now turned against the Senator and about time. In the years he has been in Government he has little to show apart from some kid who never gets listened to. He publishes one sided stories anyhow. We never hear the other side because the other side can never comment. Mrs Macon I voted for your son last time. But the more I read from you the more I regret it.

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  52. 52
    Alex

    Even if people like what Stuart is doing it is pretty obvious that his “method” is all wrong. I wouldn’t stop at his blog either, there are a few others which the police should look into who seem to copy the Senator’s stance all the time. Maybe it is time for a general clear up of all these stupid blogs?

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  53. 53
    Chris

    All materials and information released by Senator Syvret should have been in the public arena in the first place. I don’t think any have prejudiced ongoing criminal investigations. In fact, some leaks have shown where the authorities have failed to prosecute, or failed generally in fully investigating serious criminal charges or malfeasances. None involve the private lives of individuals, but more serios policy and policing issues.

    We need more people ‘causing trouble’ in this way, or we, the public, will continue to be managed by those with access to governmental and judicial information, to the detriment of a properly functioning democratic society.

    Also, who is so naive as to believe that partners share the same beliefs in all circumstances? Saying you won’t vote for Dep. Labey because of her relationship with Sen Syvret is reactionary. Does a woman not have the ability to have her own mind?

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  54. 54
    J G

    What a shame that this issue has turned into a ‘personalities’ yet again. The fact that Stuart Syvret’s partner is Deputy Labey is a personal and private matter and should be detached from what is being discussed. Likewise, if he chooses to spend time at his partners home or live in a luxury hotel is no one elses business and should not enter into the equation either.
    Therefore if Deputy Labey says she felt violated, and her mother was upset she has every right to feel that way regardless of ‘who’,what, where, why and how’. I’m sure anybody who had been subject to that treatment would have felt exactly the same, so why aren’t people able to detach the actions taken from those involved?

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  55. 55
    PJG

    Gary 51
    I agree with everything you said.
    I too voted for Jeremy Macon, I thought a young mans thoughts in the house might have a good effect on the old school.
    Alas due to his association and obvious obedience to his Mum whose comments on this site have disappointed me, never again.
    Unless of coarse he becomes his own man.

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  56. 56
    Roger's trousers

    “The fact that Stuart Syvret’s partner is Deputy Labey is a personal and private matter and should be detached from what is being discussed.”

    Au contraire. Deputy Labey is upset because her house was searched. Her house was searched because she shared it with SS. SS publishes a blog which offends and ridicules large numbers of people who are just trying to do their jobs and who are unable to defend themselves. The house was searched because the police believed SS was carrying out illegal activity from the house.

    She can feel as violated as she wants, but nobody can dispute that she had knowingly placed herself in a position where there was a chance her house would be searched. Though the police, sensitively, decided not to carry out the search while she was in the Island.

    It’s like if I ask Simon Spliff to live in my house and the drugs squad turn up, it sounds a bit hollow if I complain afterwards. If she wants a quiet life she’s chosen a very strange person to shack up with.

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  57. 57
    J G

    Exactly – her house was searched under questionable circumstances, and as for the police acting sensitively, you’re having a ‘larf’ aren’t you. If she had not been on holiday, do you think they would have waited until she went off on her next jollies? I think not. Since when have the Jersey Police State ever been sensitive in such matters? Answer – not when it involves Stuart Syvret.
    Again you use her relationship with Stuart Syvret – who knows how strange, suspect or dysfunctional anybody’s partners are (not referring to SS in this instance), but that is surely the choice we make, and has nothing to do with the manner and legality of what the police did.
    And….if people are offended or slandered/ libeled by Stuart Syvret they have the opportunity to do what he does, respond or sue – freedom of speech – what our forefathers fought for in that Blitz.

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  58. 58
    Speak da Troof

    “if people are offended or slandered/ libeled by Stuart Syvret they have the opportunity to do what he does, respond or sue”

    Although of course when the TJN said something SS didn’t like, he went running to the police claiming he was blackmailed and that they had to investigate. And he still hasn’t explained why he dropped his claim and why he wasn’t prosecuted for wasting police time.

    But then double standards seem de rigour when it comes to judging SS’s behaviour (and how apt his initials are).

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  59. 59
    Euan Mee

    Syvret is fond of naming people as murderers or child molestors on his site and sneering that if they don’t like it, they can sue him.
    So he doesn’t like what the police did. The answer’s simple Stuart, sue the police!! No, I didn’t think so…

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  60. 60
    Big Bean

    Many people have made comments that if people who are named on Syvret’s bolg are innocent then why don’t they sue or respond.

    Well, knowing someone who has been wrongly accused in Syvret’s blog let me answer that.

    I have been told that to respond would bring this into the public domain therefore allowing the press to report and this would bring even more unwanted attention.

    As for sueing, yes, there are very good cases and very winnable, however,we are talking huge sums of money. the person I know hasn’t got a spare hundred thousand pounds lying around.

    Syvret knows this, therefore he knows he is untouchable.

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  61. 61
    kate

    Syvrets writings on his blog – even if there was any element of truth in what he writes the fantasizing far out weighs anthing of any value. Deputy Labey knew what she was taking on when he moved in so she shouldn’t be showing indignation now. Let the police do their job and the truth will prevail.

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  62. 62
    Adrian

    I would ask, how did the police know his partner was off island at the time of the search? Monitoring of some description must have occured to get this private information don’t you think? Obviously those of a non conspiracy nature would put it down to go old fashioned luck.

    The other issue re ANY blog. Anyone who has reason to believe they have been lied about has the obvious recourse of contacting Google to get said blog removed.

    I am very concerned as to the truth of anything reported in any media outlet. I would presume most would put this as their number one priority ahead of anything else? This is what we need to assertain. As we all know Jersey is a very small island and the grape vine tends to act as a source of news
    whether correct or not anyway.

    I believe the best way to sort all this out would be to have an impartial inquiry, that is seen to be impartial by both camps.

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  63. 63
    Michael

    J G. You seem to have a lot of facts about this arrest. Can I try and sum up how you are painting this picture… SS walked out of his front door, whistling a happy tune with small birds flying around, joining in the song and squirrels and hedgehogs dancing to his happy tune. As he skipped towards his car to take him to his busy day of making everyone happy, 8 police officers, armed with machetes and AK47 assult rifles jumped on him and pinned him to the ground, spraying mace in his eyes and generally having a laugh at him.

    As they roughly threw him in the back of one of the undercover tanks that they had hidden under a rosebush several of the officers went into the house. Instead of asking him to open the door they each picked a window or door and kicked it in. Once inside they started breaking things (on purpose) and stepping mud onto the carpets. One officer even came outside with a pair of SS’ underwear to show everyone.

    Once they got SS to the station and locked him in the dungeon, with shackles on his wrists and ankles they left him there, with no food or drink, for 5 days. On the fifth day they asked him if he could give them a reason to arrest him because they didn’t actually have one and were a little embarrassed. When SS said he wouldn’t help them with that they considered arresting him for failing to aid a police investigation but thought better of it and let him go……

    Now although this sounds farcical, I have run this tale past a couple of people before adding it to the site and they are in agreement that this is what we are hearing has happened. Let’s get two things straight here. SS is not a hero of the people. He has stated that he has lots of information that he is going to drip feed to the media. If he was such a knight in shining armour then surely these wrongs would be brought to attention straight away, not dragged out in the hope that it will prolong his celebrity status. Secondly, I believe that he will be charged with a data protection breach and he will NOT go through with his threat of suing. All hot air with no substance and we are now starting to see this fully manifested.

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  64. 64
    Big Bean

    Adrian, I’m pretty sure that not everything on the internet goes through Google.

    I believe that some bloggers use sites owned in other countries purely so they cannot have their blogs shut down.

    However, I would be interested if someone could clarify this. Anyone out their with knowledge (factual) in this area?

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  65. 65
    New Face in Hell

    What are you going on about Adrian?

    Google aren’t the world police you know. I think you need to face up to reality: SS has been in the States for nearly 20 years and he is the only one who has done well out of it.

    Can you name anything he has done that has benefitted the people of Jersey?

    And if Google are the answer to everything, why didn’t SS go and ask Google to shut down the TJN website after they printed the evidence that showed they were not blackmailing him.

    But again, its all double standards with SS, isn’t it. Speak da Troof got “dat” right.

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  66. 66
    anonymouse

    #65 – new face in hell:
    google own the website that stuart publishes his blog on, so they would be the one to complain to about articles published on their platform..

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  67. 67
    Adrian

    Thanks annoymouse maybe someone might read your post and take notice. Obviously some people can’t differentiate between the truth and fiction.

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  68. 68
    Lorna Hamilton

    Big Bean, you’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s pretty much always the case with that kind of the situation, the people with money win because those without can’t afford to argue. This is how banks and all sorts of large companies constantly get away with bullying individuals.

    These laws need to be changed such that the individual only ever has to pay if they lose! When they win their lawyer etc can be paid out of their ‘winnings’.

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  69. 69
    J G

    Michael (63) – What a load of waffle!!! If you had been speaking it you would have wasted your breath!
    I know no more about SS’s arrest than you do, only what has been reported and passed my own comments on the events that happened from the facts given.
    And actually, I think Stuart commands a lot more respect than you care to admit to, and I for one am not ashamed to admit I have a lot of admiration for him and his attempts to clean up this corrupt Island.
    Nearly 150,000 unique blog users speaks for itself.

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  70. 70
    Euan Mee

    69. You presume that everyone who gazes upon SS’s blog thinks he is the messiah. Many, like myself, think he is the self-opinionated buffoon who has single handed destroyed any chance of the guilty being prosecuted. But it’s not about them, it’s about Stuart himself, he who cannot be criticised. That is the ultimate goal, worshipping the non-fallible stuart. I despise the man.

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  71. 71
    John

    Michael,(63)
    I liken your comic strip story to the plethora of utter fictional dribble SS burps up now and again, and always as if ‘Father Truth’ has rubbed this fledgling between the shoulder blades in a bid to stop his whining. But will he stop?….will he heck! This spinner of rumour and innuendo thrives on feeding the likes of JG (69) such diatribe as seems to satisfy the appetites of the vast number of naive individuals he hoodwinks on a daily basis. I wonder how they’ll deal with the indigestion when the truth is out and the unpalatable vindicates the police et al…..I suppose they’ll just spin another one!!

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  72. 72
    Michael

    J G.

    You seem to have completely missed thepoint that my waffle was making. As you state… nobody knows what actually happened during the arrest for certain. All we have to go on is a one sided account of the event from the Senator – and god frorbid that he would ever exagerate something for his own personal advantage!

    The police have not as yet put forward their facts on the arrest – as I hope you would agree is the correct method as this is still an ongoing investigation. When they do we will have 2 sides to the story and then it will be possible to make judgements on the event.

    I’m sure if you were arrested for a crime – whether you were guilty or not you would not wish for the police to release details to the press whilst the investigation was still going on.

    If you can manage to pull your head out of the sand for a few minutes you may be able to see that the police are being very cautious in this case, as they are right to do with the person in question. If their case is not watertight I would be very surprised.

    And although Stuart may be a great whistle blower it is important to remember not to believe absolutely everything you read. No matter who writes it!

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  73. 73
    Michael

    Oh, and perhaps the blog wouldn’t be so popular if he didn’t use his arrest as an advertisement for his site!

    Report abuse

  74. 74
    TBM

    70. Euan Mee. Here here! Totally agree with everything in your comment.

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  75. 75
    new face in hell

    So, everything on google is true then is it?

    Can you tell me whether the TJN website that accuses SS of being a liar is true then?

    What a load of balderdash – although some might find this unbelievable, due to their strange belief that teh sun revolves around SS – I suspect that Google probably doesn’t care two hoots about SS or his blog.

    Euan Mee has it right – look at what SS has done over the last 20 years – he (and people like Geoff Southern) simply want to destroy Jersey, attacking its reputation, wasting taxpayers money, trying to delay everything and alienating anyone who has any notion of public service.

    And if you think otherwise, remind yourself that at the last election SS claimed to be a supporter of the finance industry then ask yourself what he has done to evidence such claim.

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  76. 76
    Betty

    Euan Mee – don’t worry, so do many other people. The tide has turned. We must ensure both Senator Syvret and Deputy Labey are voted out of the States in 2011. I believe it will happen.

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  77. 77
    Adrian

    new face in hell I have pointed out that there is redress through Google reference said blog. It is up to people to act on this information. If they don’t what does this say?

    Why do people have to read a blog to get an idea of what is going on over here? The more things are kept quiet the more people will suspect a cover up.

    I strongly believe if people have nothing to hide then everything can be put in the open.

    Secrecy breeds mistrust. Mistrust is hard to overcome when it becomes second nature.

    We all know someone, who knows someone, in Jersey and nothing can be kept secret from people. Just because something deosn’t get reported it doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. I believe it is about time people thought a bit more about things instead of accepting what is in the news.

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  78. 78
    Tim

    Adrian:- you keep on saying that there is redress through Google blogs, but is there? Google states the following:-

    “Here are some examples of content we will not remove unless provided with a court order:

    Personal attacks or alleged defamation”

    Therefore, the only address is through the courts, not through Google as you constantly claim. So you can libel somebody, and unless they take you to court and get an order against this, the information stays.

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  79. 79
    Adrian

    Tim if you can prove you have been maligned to Google I can’t see them keeping said blog. If you can’t disprove said comments then the blog will not be removed. I still would suggest people get hold of someone there and explain the situation and see what they are prepared to do about it. It cannot do any harm to ask them direct can it?

    I have only tried to offer some constructive advice for those who feel they have been maligned, that is all.

    They still have access to the courts as well. Surely not everyone is too poor that they are unable to start proceedings?

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  80. 80
    truthseeker

    Still not the point…..why let any predjudice for or against a person divert us from the issue…other more in favour politicians who had issues with the handling of electors data were not, that is to say not,subjected to a house raid,to lose sight of this is to become part of the problem instead of the solution…if it was Jack the Ripper it would still have been blatantly and obviously disproportionate……..

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  81. 81
    Susan

    Big Bean and others criticise for the comparision of the blitz with this house search. Did they experience both? No of course they didn’t so they speak totally out of turn.

    Why did the Police not get a search warrant for the file that supposedly broke data protection? i believe their act was one of intimidation to those who speak out and have opposing views. This is an act of oppression in the worst form.

    We live in a democracy not a dictatorship why can’t people tolerate opposing views or blogs which give one man’s opinions?

    Grow up Jersey!

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  82. 82
    Simon

    I live in Grouville and have always supported Deputy Labey. She does an excellent job in the parish and plays an active role in Government.

    Nothing has changed.

    I shall continue to support her.

    Some of the comments here which now question Deputy Labey’s professional abilities say more about the authors than they do about anything else.

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  83. 83
    Adrian

    It appears to me that there are certain factions intent on rubbishing anything or anyone that doesn’t tow the establishment line, and show the establishment in a glowing light.

    It also appears to me that certain people believe the establishment are above making mistakes. Do you indeed believe the sun shines from a certain place?

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  84. 84
    ade

    There have been many postings about the need for warrants under the DP Law but many of you need to look at the law. The person (or properly corporation sole) who needs a warrant is the DP Commissioner. Since the Police acted they quite properly used their powers under PPCE Law

    A little knowledge is dangerous especially when from one source.

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  85. 85
    Big Bean

    Thank you Susan.

    You are quite right. I have not experienced the Blitz, however if you had read my post properly you would have seen that my comments were on behalf of my dear old granny who had. (Comment 1).

    However, if it makes you feel better, I have experienced genocide, famine, death and other acts of atrocity that have been as a result of war, so do have some idea of how terrifying the blitz could be.

    I would opt for my house to be searched anytime, which now, as we all knew, has been confirmed as legal.

    Right then. Time to move on and change the record!

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  86. 86
    Adrian

    Big bean Maybe you should be asking the question as to why all the acts you have experienced have been allowed to go unchecked by the west who are allegedly humanitarian in their outlook. Zimbabwe is but one glaring example of this. Maybe the moto is no oil, no interest?

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  87. 87
    Shaun

    Please read my entry (6) above, and then read page 4 of todays JEP. Get your facts right before writing ridiculous, unfounded comments supporting Syvret and more than willing to sling mud in the direction of our Police force who cannot defend themselves in the media forum in most of the cases that are being reported on( and that goes for you journalists). The Police have a hard enough job to do without people like the majority of you waiting to pounce and stick a knife in at every opportunity. If your house gets broken into tonight/ your husband/wife/ sister/ brother/ or evn your dog gets assaulted………..who are you going to call in the morning………….Yes you guessed it the Police. Lord knows my hat is off to them for doing the job they do, and with folk like most of you standing back and waiting to get a cheap shot in – WELL DONE!! Oh and yeah thtas page 4 if you want to read and make a comment.

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  88. 88
    Susan

    Comment 38 Julia claims; “Deputy Labey has chosen apaullingly” when talking about her partner and therefore dear Julia is on the look out for another candidate to replace Deputy Labey in 2011.
    This narrow-minded, intolerant view typifies Jersey and many of its residents.
    Judgemental, narrow and dare i say it of another woman, mysogonistic.
    Does Julia know the Senator Syvret behind the politican? As a politician however, he is a man of integrity, honesty and has more courage than 99% of this Island. Is this appaulling? According to Julia it is, because she no doubt doesn’t share his views or doesn’t like how he goes about expressing them. Oh and because of that, regardless of the good job Deputy Labey is doing, she must loose her seat!
    Like i say, what a narrow-minded, intolerant, judgemental and mysolgonistic Island we live in.
    And Julia typifies it all.

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