Mr Power: Time to call a halt
Tuesday 23rd February 2010, 3:00PM GMT.
ALMOST exactly two years since the name of Haut de la Garenne hit the world’s headlines, Jersey is still dealing with the fall-out.
The ramifications of how the police and politicians handled that dramatic escalation of the Island’s historical child abuse inquiry will once again tax the wisdom of States Members this week when they debate Deputy Bob Hill’s call for a committee of inquiry into the suspension of States police chief Graham Power.
We may never know precisely what arguments he will make because the debate is to be held in private, but they will need to be powerful ones to justify the protraction of an already extensive examination.
There seems to be little, if any, doubt over the two key points. One is that Mr Power’s deputy, Lenny Harper, was not effectively supervised as he pursued with ever increasing public zeal his unsubstantiated suspicions that torture, murder and institutional cover-up had taken place at the former children’s home. The other is that in suspending Mr Power because of that failure of oversight, the powers that be slipped up in one or more parts of the procedural minefield that now surrounds employer/employee relations in Jersey.
Unequivocally damning evidence in respect of the first of those points has already been presented by the States police’s own review of the conduct of the abuse inquiry, carried out by a suitably qualified senior officer from the UK. More expert comment on the whole affair is due soon from the Wiltshire Constabulary, who have been commissioned to take a further independent view.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur has offered a review of the way Mr Power’s suspension was carried out. All this has already taken longer and cost more than is reasonable, with the delay providing a field day for conspiracy theorists in the process.
In reaching a decision this week, the States will have to balance a number of tricky questions, including, crucially, what is fair to Mr Power but also what is fair to Jersey and to the taxpayer.
Mr Power has been suspended for more than a year. He is now near retirement and, one way or another, will undoubtedly leave Jersey well rewarded for his ultimately disappointing time in the Island. There is, nevertheless, understandable sadness that a dedicated, respected police officer who has given long and distinguished service should find himself in this position at the end of his career.
Depending on one’s point of view, that sympathy will either be diluted or reinforced by the knowledge that Mr Power and Mr Harper co-existed as two sides of a triangular relationship with a weak Home Affairs Minister in former Senator Wendy Kinnard.
From any perspective, though, there is strong evidence that Mr Power has largely brought his troubles on himself through his failure to control Mr Harper. For that reason Deputy Hill, himself a former Metropolitan Police officer of the old school, will have a hard task convincing the States that there would be any overwhelmingly important purpose served by dragging out this whole grim process even further.
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If this isn’t designed to swing public opinion behind the establishment I don’t know what is.
This article bares no resemblence to the online blog of a certain Senator. One thing is for sure both can’t be right. I know which one I believe to be the more accurate of the two.
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Your leader was a disgrace the way the JEP has treated this whole saga has been disgraceful. I stopped buying it 10 months ago total pro government bias no impartial reporting in short a joke!!
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I have bought the JEP man and boy, I have subscribed to the WEP at university and collected most wartime JEPs for the family archive and I am frankly disgusted by this editorial.
Having followed this saga closely , I have read the wording of the original releases and some of the technical appraisals with a scientific eye . The mismatch between your editorial and the initially released professional interpretations is breathtaking, and how those mismatches then mirror the after the event ‘revisionist’ interpretations of the ‘new brooms’ truly frightening.
I and you cannot know that Wendy Kinnard was ‘weak’ unless you were present at the time which you cannot have been as you are journalist.Personally , I cannot believe that she was and is anything but robust and moral ,in an environment of self serving sharks.
I look to the JEP to be a organ of truth , where is it?
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I daresay there are some people who will agree with this piece of “journalism” but for those who are interested in knowing the actual facts it is just another pathetic attempt to discredit some decent professional men.Do the JEP really want us to believe that nothing bad ever happened at Haut de la Garenne and that a few people just decided it would be fun to tarnish the wonderful image of Jersey(??)
Give us FACTS and let people speak out or is that too dangerous?
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I concur entirely with the remarks made by #1 and #2. Disgracefully biased comments.
I too gave up buying your paper a long time ago. This leader gives me no impetus to start again.
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@ Adrian #1
“If this isn’t designed to swing public opinion behind the establishment…”
Or perhaps just designed to show the truth, and let the Public form their own opinion based on that.
“…This article bares no resemblence to the online blog of a certain Senator. One thing is for sure both can’t be right. I know which one I believe to be the more accurate of the two…”
I have to admit that I gave up reading Sen. Syvret’s blog some time ago, having read enough to form a view about his state of mind.
Fact is Harper did untold damage to the image of the Police in Jersey, he wasn’t even liked or trusted by fellow officers from what I’ve heard from two serving SoJ Police officers.
And where is he now? Where’s the Senator?
I recall when the whole HdlG thing kicked off being attacked on another forum for daring to predict that Lennie Harper was blowing things out of proportion and saying I couldn’t believe his superiors were allowing such a incompetent officer act how he was.
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I am lost for words. This article is so far off the mark that it is difficult to know where to begin.
Please take a look at Graham Power’s sworn affidavit and his written response to Mr Lewis’s contradictory statement and you will find that a totally different picture emerges.
With articles like this do not be suprised when people react with accusations of lies, cover up and corruption at the heart of government. The people of Jersey deserve better. We want the truth. It is our right.
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“Fact is Harper did untold damage to the image of the Police in Jersey, he wasn’t even liked or trusted by fellow officers from what I’ve heard from two serving SoJ Police officers.”
No surprise there: he didn’t like bent coppers any more than I do and set out to weed them out. Not the best way to be popular with those who are happy to see corruption go unpunished.
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Like previous entrys do not buy & do not advertise either in JEP for a period now & after the “journalism” of this week will certainly not be doing so for the forseeable future.
For someone especially someone of Mr Powers stature to swear an affidavit to his side of the matter & then read the “spin” of Lewis & others I know which one I believe.
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In answer to J lamborrari (comment 6)Senator Syvret is in London- I am surprised that you didn’t know that.I am also surprised that you formed an opinion about his state of mind from reading his blog because people who have met him and talked to him at length have informed me how intelligent and articulate he is and that he actually answers all questions directly without trying to change the subject or distract from the topic.I could also tell you that hearing something from 2 serving officers in the Jersey police force doesn’t really carry much weight as 2 different officers would tell you a different tale.Sorry to pick on your comment as you are entitled to your opinion of course but I think most people would like to hear the whole truth from those concerned so that they could then form their opinions also-based on facts.Keeping things behind closed doors and in secret is not the best way to convince an intelligent public that there is nothing to hide.
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Derek Turner,
Please supply more information about so called ‘bent coppers’ because I regard that comment as nothing but a disgusting slur.
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Tasmin
I am sure Derek Turner is sorry to hurt your delicate sensibilities but the fact remains that there are ‘bent coppers’ in your force, always has been and always will be.
Unless of course you can confirm that every man jack of our boys and girls in blue are utterly honest and straight? Always have been? Always will be?
That is not to say all police officers are bent, that is obviously not true, so, as he wasn’t pointing the finger directly at you, you shouldn’t feel too slurred.
Anyway, to take Mr Turner’s quote directly to see if he was being unfair, answer these questions:-
Would you not agree that Mr Harper did indeed have a fundamental dislike for bent coppers?
Would you also agree that he set out to weed them out.
Would it also be fair to say that he achieved a modicum of success at it?
Q.E.D. Derek Turner was correct.
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I served 30 years in the force and never saw a corrupt or bent copper other than the three jailed for fraud. I really don’t give a toss whether you believe that or not.
However at least Derek Turner puts his name on his unfounded ridiculous remarks, unlike the gutless Frosty Reception. He alleges as fact that there are corrupt officers in the Force. If it’s fact, then report those facts to the appropriate authorities. If not, it’s not fact, it’s unsubstantiated libel. I’m sure the Police Association would care for his details so they can deal with him appropriately.
Of course we don’t like bent coppers and we all want to weed any out. That doesn’t mean we presume all coppers are bent until proven otherwise, as Harper certainly believed.
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Frosty Reception refers to “your force” so not local then.
Harper and his coconuts that is the real Deputy Chief of Police which I will always remember
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It does worry me that some years ago, after an independent review of the States Policde, you, the editor joined in praising Power and Harper for sorting out corruption in the force and generally doing a very good job.
But as soon as they start investigating institional child abuse… you criticize them at every opportunity , often and even in the face of robust evidence… that is a worry and not without precident in the investigation of child abuse.
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“..at least Derek Turner puts his name on his unfounded ridiculous remarks, unlike the gutless Frosty Reception.”
Hello Euan Mee, pot calling kettle?
I also served for many years before I left the rock and I saw plenty instances of corruption. I could list them but the editors would probably edit them out. Most officers involved are no longer serving as a result of their acts. The most recent were weeded out by Mr Harper.
If the only bent officers you knew of in the last 30 years were the three fraudsters, you obviously didn’t have your eyes open or you have a strange definition of the word ‘corrupt’.
Corruption comes in many forms; not just bribes or tipping off criminals. EG, using the PNC to obtain details of vehicle owners for non police purposes (another conviction). Copying files from computers for home use. All forms of corruption.
Matt, I said ‘your force’ because it seems pretty clear from Tasmins indignant feeling of being sluured that she is in the police.
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Speaking of “bent coppers” I recall many years ago when my best friend’s brother was in some minor trouble with the law(drug related but minor compared to todays standards)The investigating officer assured his mother that charges could be dropped if she would agree to certain propositions from him (I leave it to your imagination rather than print in full!)They were a decent family and the father was not a man to frighten easily so when his wife informed him of the disgraceful “deal” on offer he dealt with it accordingly (not violently I hasten to add)I have never forgotten it as I know it is 100% true-I can still recall the man’s name and he remained in the Jersey force for many years.
Obviously there are good and bad in every walk of life.
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J Lamborrari I trust Deputy Bob Hill and his judgement and I think it very unlikely that anyone could pull the wool over his eyes.
J Lamborrari “I have to admit that I gave up reading Sen. Syvret’s blog some time ago, having read enough to form a view about his state of mind.”
Are you a pyschiatrist by profession?
Euan Mee “I served 30 years in the force and never saw a corrupt or bent copper other than the three jailed for fraud.”
So what are you saying? Did you witness corruption or not? A simple yes or no will suffice.
Euan Mee “That doesn’t mean we presume all coppers are bent until proven otherwise, as Harper certainly believed.”
Has Mr.Harper presumed all coppers are bent? As far as I am concerned this is only your interpretation of what Mr.Harper believed and nothing else and could well be a figment of your imagination.
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@ Julie #10
You’re surprised I didn’t know he was in London? I didn’t realize it was common knowledge(do I feel silly now… no) anyway, I don’t really care where in the world he’s run off to, he’s an elected member of the SoJ and the point is he isn’t here.
“…I am also surprised that you formed an opinion about his state of mind from reading his blog because people who have met him and talked to him at length have informed me how intelligent and articulate he is and that he actually answers all questions directly without trying to change the subject or distract from the topic…”
I’ve met him in person and did not form that view, also in email correspondence I found him rather lacking in his answering too.
It’s odd that you’re surprised by this considering you’re obviously not so naïve as to believe there are not two(or more) sides to every story, as is evident by your next comment:
“…I could also tell you that hearing something from 2 serving officers in the Jersey police force doesn’t really carry much weight as 2 different officers would tell you a different tale…”
I don’t disagree, but I haven’t spoken to any officers who have spoken positively about Harper, so from my sample the view is 100% negative; which matched my personal view having had dealings with him.
I’ve no doubt that I could ask about and find somebody who had had positive dealings with Harper
@ Adrian #18
“…Are you a pyschiatrist by profession?…”
I’m not be currently practicing or licensed in Jersey; so while I’m happy to talk about problems you may have I don’t think it would be appropriate to take paid work I’m afraid; if required I could recommend somebody for you.
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