The Law is an Obstructive Ass

Yesterday the Council of Ministers met and confirmed our fullest support for the Home Affairs Minister, the Police and our Criminal Justice authorities. (February 2008, Statement by Chief Minister, Frank Walker)


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/30/ukcrime/print

Just been reading the online Guardian page, where it is noted that:

At the states meeting yesterday it was also revealed that the law officers' department, Jersey's equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service, had turned down requests by the inquiry team for search warrants. Police sources yesterday said they had been refused three times when applying for permission to search the headquarters of the sea cadets in St Helier, where abuse has been alleged. The search was eventually carried out with help from officers from the mainland.

A source close to Harper yesterday said he had been so "severely and willfully obstructed" in his investigation that he had come within "hours" of resigning. But the source stressed that Harper's retirement in August was unrelated and had been planned for some time.

Now who was it who said back in February 2008?

Whilst the Council of Ministers prime concern is protecting our current vulnerable children, our next priority is to ensure that anyone who has perpetrated crimes against children is identified and prosecuted. We have complete confidence in our Police, The Law Officers and the Judiciary. We know they will do everything in their power to ensure that the criminal investigations and any subsequent prosecutions are thorough, professional and totally impartial. (Frank Walker)

So much for the Law Officers doing everything in their power not to obstruct the investigation! I wonder what Frank Walker would say?

http://www.gov.je/ChiefMinister/StatementontheHistoricChildAbuse.htm