THE States police currently have more than 1,000 lines of inquiry relating to major tragedies that struck the Island in December.
The figure relates to ongoing investigations into the collision between Condor’s Commodore Goodwill and the L’Ecume II fishing vessel on 8 December – Operation Nectar – as well as the Pier Road explosion on 10 December, Operation Spire.
Chief officer Robin Smith said that, from the moment of the latter incident, some police officers began working 12-hour shifts and continued doing so for the next six weeks.
He revealed that there were about 800 lines of inquiry that related to Operation Spire and 380 for Operation Nectar.
‘That could be something very, very simple in terms of [collecting] some CCTV, to something infinitely more complicated,’ he explained.
Mr Smith also said there had been no interviews involving a criminal caution – or arrests – so far, but stressed that this was ‘entirely natural’.
‘That’s entirely routine. The reason for that is, as I’ve already alluded to, the complexity and frankly the enormity of the investigation.
‘I would have been very surprised if we were in a position to formally interview yet, if indeed we ever will, under caution. So we may, we may not, but the facts will drive the outcome,’ he added.
There are currently 27 full-time officers and staff working on Operation Spire and 12 working Operation Nectar.
‘We have also got police investigators from the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands Police, Staffordshire Police, where we get help from mutual aid. Some of these are former officers, retired officers, to help support our investigation.
‘We continue to get support and advice from the National Crime Agency and we get what we call peer support for our senior investigating officer for the Pier Road explosion with very experienced investigators.’
He noted that, from the moment of the explosion on 10 December, ‘in excess’ of 70 police officers began working 12-hour shifts and continued doing so for the next six weeks – including over the festive period.
Those working on Operation Spire include fire and explosion experts, gas experts, archaeologists and structural engineers.
All of the physical evidence is expected to be recovered from the scene by the end of March, with search officers at the site due to begin scaling back activity from next week.
Senior investigating officer Alison Fossey said: ‘The progress of our investigation at the Haut du Mont site over the last few weeks has been very good. Although we’re keeping an open mind, our working hypothesis is a gas explosion.
‘Our investigation team is working alongside a variety of experts to understand exactly how that has happened.
She added: ‘While our police search teams will be continuing work at the scene until next month, the investigation remains very complex and there will be many more months of work ahead for the team.’
Operation Spire
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More than 800 lines of enquiry.
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More than 300 statements taken.
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More than 600 exhibits collected.
Operation Nectar
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380 lines of enquiry have been recorded.
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Around 400 documents registered.
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More than 270 pieces of media and more than 150 items of property documented.
