THE States police have provided updates on three major investigations.
In August, three people were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and subsequently released on police bail in relation to the Haut du Mont explosion last December which claimed the lives of ten Islanders.
A number of people in surrounding buildings on Pier Road were never able to return home and several properties are set to be demolished.
A major-crime inquiry team, led by Detective Superintendent Alison Fossey and called Operation Spire, was established in response to the tragedy.
The blast came just two days after the L’Ecume II trawler, skippered by Michael Michieli, sank following a collision with Condor’s Commodore Goodwill freight ship off Jersey’s west coast.
Mr Michieli and his two crewmen – Filipinos Jervis Ramirez Baligat and Larry Simyunn – were killed in the incident.
Statements from around 80 witnesses, including people on board the Goodwill, were collected as part of the police investigation, codenamed Operation Nectar.
And an update has also been provided on Operation Doric – a police inquiry into a suspected hit-and-run in August which killed Islander Dean Lowe (48) and his 11-year-old son Charlie.
A 28-year-old man, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop and report an accident. He was released on police bail after his arrest in August.
Police chief Robin Smith said: “We are currently in a position where a force of just over 200 officers is investigating a series of incidents involving 15 unexplained deaths.
“There is an enormous amount of hard work being done at the moment by colleagues and the fact they can undertake such complex and painstaking investigations while also continuing to respond to the calls of Islanders every day is truly commendable.
“The organisation is running hot and it has been running hot for almost a year now.
“Today is 341 days since the L’Ecume II tragedy and since then our major-incident teams have worked through nearly 2,500 lines of enquiry, taken over 1,200 statements and examined almost 3,000 exhibits across three investigations.
“For the past 11 months our investigators have been diligently collecting every piece of evidence to help ensure that we get to the truth of what happened for victims, families and the wider community.
“But the investigators are only one part of the team that also involves family liaison officers and civilian staff, who all contribute to the overall effort.”
Operation Spire
Mr Smith said: “We’ve arrested three people who have been bailed while our investigation continues. We’re currently awaiting the results of forensic tests by the Health and Safety Executive in the UK in order to complete our investigations. Whilst the investigation into the events at Pier Road remains a joint one between the SOJP and HSI, there are two separate criminal investigations being conducted under this umbrella – the one by us and one by the Health and Safety Inspectorate, which is considering potential offences under the Health and Safety at Work Law.
“While we have continued to keep bereaved families and those who lost their homes up to date with what is happening, we have also been working with the government and others who are supporting displaced families and looking at issues such as how to mark the anniversary.
“As we move forward, the Health and Safety Inspectorate and States of Jersey Police will continue to provide updates.”
Operation Nectar
Mr Smith said: “In preparation for submitting the file, the investigation team has completed more than 600 lines of enquiry since the start of the investigation and worked through more than 1,075 documents, 467 pieces of media (for example, CCTV footage and photographs), 920 exhibits and 258 pieces of property.
“In addition, 202 statements have been obtained from around 138 witnesses, which have been focused enquiries due to the limited number of eyewitnesses to the events of the collision. The Law Officers’ Department will review the file, but given its size and complexity it will take some time to consider the evidence submitted and make a decision on charging.”
Operation Doric
Mr Smith said: “The whole Island was shocked by the terrible events in which Dean and Charlie Lowe died this summer, and as part of our ongoing investigation a suspect remains on bail.
“We’ve also been using expertise in UK labs to analyse some of the evidence we’ve collected which, so far, also includes 169 lines of enquiry, 504 documents, 94 statements and 414 media items such as CCTV footage.”
