Abuse files handed to inquiry as Health meet deadline

Thursday 26 June 2014

Files from the abuse compensation scheme have been handed over to the Jersey Care Inquiry as the Health department met a seven-day deadline to hand over all of their records.

The inquiry demanded the files last week after the department initially refused to comply – Health said that some of the information was deeply sensitive, and that a small minority of abuse victims and witnesses had told them that they didn’t want anything to do with the inquiry.

But yesterday Health complied with the order, handing over the equivalent of ten storage boxes of evidence and files from the Historic Abuse Redress Scheme, but highlighting documents that they did not have consent to disclose. They are now writing to claimants to explain what has happened.

The £6 million inquiry into abuse in Island care homes from 1945 right up to the present day – set up with wide-ranging powers to demand documents and force witnesses to give evidence – will begin public hearings on 22 July.

A statement from Health Minister Anne Pryke said: “The scheme records have now been provided on the understanding that the inquiry will manage the records in compliance with the Data Protection Law and that confidentiality will be preserved.

“Where claimants did not consent, their scheme records have been disclosed as directed but the records have been highlighted to reflect the lack of consent. The scheme lawyers are now writing to those claimants, explaining the position.

“The minister and the Health and Social Services Department will continue working with the inquiry so that it has all the information required in order to discharge its terms of reference.”

Anyone with experience or information that might be relevant is urged to get in touch with them. They have a legal team taking witness statements, and you can get in touch with them via their website at http://www.jerseycareinquiry.org.