Police suspension notes not kept

Graham Power says the correct procedures were not followed

The man responsible for suspending Jersey's chief police officer did not retain the handwritten notes taken at his suspension meeting.

Former acting Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis suspended Graham Power over inaccurate information released about the historic care abuse inquiry.

The decision followed a meeting between Mr Lewis, Mr Power and chief executive of the States, Bill Ogley.

Mr Lewis said he did not think it was necessary to retain the original notes.

'Meticulous' records

Following the meeting last November, Mr Power was suspended from duty pending an inquiry into his handling of the historic child abuse investigation at Haut de la Garenne.

Mr Power has denied any wrongdoing and claimed his suspension did not follow correct procedures - this claim has been rejected by Mr Lewis.

Mr Lewis said copious notes were taken at the meeting. These were turned into a typed transcript document by Mr Ogley and then passed to the acting minister for approval.

Haut de la Garenne was closed as a children's home in 1986

He then signed the document believing it to a "full and accurate record" of the meeting.

Mr Lewis told BBC News it would have been deemed unnecessary to retain the hand written notes, after the typed ones had been written and approved.

He has said the meeting was accurately and meticulously recorded.

In December it was announced the Chief Constable Brian Moore of Wiltshire Police would lead a discipline inquiry into Mr Power's conduct.

A new investigating team looking into claims of abuse at the former children's home has revealed no-one was murdered there.