Child Sex Abuse Investigation on Little Island of Jersey Makes Big Waves

Jersey child sex abuse: Thirteen celebrities, politicians and sports stars among dozens to be questioned

A policeman outside the Haut de la Garenne care home, Jersey's house of horrors,
 during the major police investigation

Detectives revealed prominent figures who are "well known" will be quizzed "imminently" into allegations of institutionalized sex offences on the island

BY TOM BEVAN
The Mirror

Celebrities, politicians and sports stars are among 13 famous people who will be questioned by police investigating a child sex abuse ring in Jersey.

Detectives revealed prominent figures who are "well known" will be quizzed "imminently" into allegations of institutionalized sex offences on the Channel Island.

Officers have not revealed their identities but confirmed that 13 of the suspects are public figures including celebrities, media personalities, politicians and sports stars.

They are among dozens of people likely to be questioned over the next few weeks as part of Operation Whistle investigation into historical child abuse.

In Jersey, the latest allegations of abuse include some suspects and victims not previously identified in the force's 2008 child abuse investigation, Operation Rectangle.

The alleged abuse is said to have occurred between the late 1930s and mid 2000s across four institutions, including the infamous Haut de la Garenne children's home.

The other institutions, which have not been named, are no longer functioning.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull said his task force expects to begin interviews "imminently".

He said the police have around 50 victims and 45 suspects - some of whom are dead or not yet identified - but 13 of them to be questioned are well known.

He added: "Some of them are celebrities, politicians, some of them are people in the media, some of them are sports people. These are people who are well known."

"Some of them are still alive and some of them are deceased but we will not be disclosing more than that.

"Some of them were visitors to the island, some will have been resident."

Children at Haut de la Garenne in the 1940s

He also confirmed the oldest cases date back to the late 1930s but the majority are from the 1970s and 1980s.

He said: "The most recent cases have been reported in the last five to ten years.

"There may be arrests made imminently.

"There will be interviews soon and some of the suspects will have to travel to the island from the UK."

It is understood there may be some crossover with the London Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree investigation into sexual abuse carried out by the former children's TV presenter, Jimmy Savile.

Savile is not believed to be one of the 13 prominent suspects identified but officers said the force had fielded several further complaints about abuse carried out by him in the island.