Third room found at Jersey home

Police are to investigate a third cellar at Haut de la Garenne on Jersey in the Britsh Channel Islands following a phone call from an ex-staff member at the former children’s home.

A sniffer dog reacted “strongly” when it entered the first underground room at the former children’s home on Wednesday, according to officers. On Saturday, the remains of a child was discovered on the premises, which is at the centre of abuse allegations.Search teams are digging turf which they believe may have been disturbed.More than 160 people have called police to say they were abused at the home.Jersey deputy chief police officer Lenny Harper said the force had received 70 calls from people mentioning a cellar.”It would appear as if the cellar is exactly as some of the witnesses who’ve made statements to us, and victims have described,” he told reporters.Some of the bricking up appears suspicious but there could be an innocent explanation for it, he said.Officers have already gained partial access to the first cellar after structural engineers assessed the safety of the building.A forensic archaeologist is due to enter it to begin sifting through large piles of rubble and soil.Senior officers said the reaction of a sniffer dog inside the room was similar to when a child’s remains were found at the home on Saturday.A second underground room adjoining the first has still to be searched.It is understood the second chamber is the same size as the first – about 12ft square and 8ft high – and is also bricked up.Mr Harper said: “Some of the bricking up appears suspicious but there could be an innocent explanation for it.”The initial look at what is in there certainly corroborates some of the victims.”BBC NewsOn Saturday, the remains of a child was discovered on the premises, which is at the centre of abuse allegations.Search teams are digging turf which they believe may have been disturbed.More than 160 people have called police to say they were abused at the home.Jersey deputy chief police officer Lenny Harper said the force had received 70 calls from people mentioning a cellar.”It would appear as if the cellar is exactly as some of the witnesses who’ve made statements to us, and victims have described,” he told reporters.Some of the bricking up appears suspicious but there could be an innocent explanation for it, he said.Officers have already gained partial access to the first cellar after structural engineers assessed the safety of the building.A forensic archaeologist is due to enter it to begin sifting through large piles of rubble and soil.Senior officers said the reaction of a sniffer dog inside the room was similar to when a child’s remains were found at the home on Saturday.A second underground room adjoining the first has still to be searched.It is understood the second chamber is the same size as the first – about 12ft square and 8ft high – and is also bricked up.Mr Harper said: “Some of the bricking up appears suspicious but there could be an innocent explanation for it.”The initial look at what is in there certainly corroborates some of the victims.”BBC News