New police chief for Jersey case

David Warcup will take over from Lenny Harper in August

The senior Jersey officer investigating abuse claims on the island is to be replaced by a police chief from Northumbria when he retires in August.

Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper is to be replaced by Deputy Chief Officer David Warcup, who is currently Deputy Chief Constable of Northumbria.

Mr Harper has been criticised for withholding information on the case.

The search by Jersey Police at the former Haut De La Garenne children's home has now moved onto a second site.

'Serious sexual crimes'

Mr Harper, who is leading the operation until Mr Warcup takes over in August, said the second site was a WWII bunker which had been the scene of alleged "serious sexual crimes".

Mr Harper said six witnesses had made the claims about the bunker, which is to the east of the former children's home.

He said: "The allegation is that residents from Haut de la Garenne were taken to the bunker by members of staff and abused there."

When Mr Warcup, 50, takes over he will be responsible for the overall strategy, policy and standards of the investigation, Jersey Police said.

The force also said it would appoint a full-time senior investigating officer, who will be responsible for operations for the investigation.

Under fire

Mr Harper, 56, had previously been in charge of both roles.

He came under fire after he decided not to reveal questions over a piece of evidence found at the former children's home.

A huge police search was triggered at the home after the discovery of what was thought to be part of a child's skull.

When police later had suspicions the fragment was not bone, they did not make their suspicions public. Mr Harper said he did not want to "distract from the inquiry".

Jersey Police also had help from outside the island when Mr Harper met specialist officers - who had experience of major investigations - from Scotland Yard.

More than 100 people have made allegations of abuse at the home between the early 1960s and 1986.