Internet gossip ‘can be harmful’ to historical abuse investigations

Internet gossip ‘can be harmful’ to historical abuse investigations

Today, two days after Kenneth Gordon was jailed for 16 years for ‘depraved’ sexual abuse against children spanning three decades, the police have urged the public to have faith in them.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull, head of crime services for the police, said ‘regardless of what did or did not happen in the past’ the force was there to serve the public and every victim would be believed and listened to.

The force’s reputation has come under fire in the past.

DSI Gull added: ‘We have a much better understanding of non-recent abuse today than we ever did before and it’s not for us to comment on what did or did not happen in the past. We can only focus on the present. We need victims to know they can have confidence when they come forward.

‘It may be that they don’t want to go down the criminal justice system. We work closely with Dewberry House [the Island’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre] to get victims the right support. It may be that through that, and over time, they become ready to engage with the police and we will be here when they want to do that.

‘Non-recent abuse cases can be challenging because there is often no other evidence and we need the victim’s confidence. We are there to listen, engage and then take action.’

Detective Sergeant Dave Hill, who led the inquiry into Gordon’s crimes, said the strength of the case was the fact that there were numerous allegations made by several victims.

‘They all support a pattern of behaviour. It is the case with non-recent investigations that we don’t have forensics or CCTV – we rely on what victims are saying and their stories. What undermines that is any suggestion of collusion – that the victims have got together – and that is where social media can be difficult because if there are comments on Facebook then a defence lawyer will jump on that. If people are talking about cases on social media it can be harmful.’

There have been comments recently in the States Assembly and on social media that the police have not investigated crimes properly.

DSI Gull said: ‘Let the police do what the police do and investigate. Internet commentary and public commentary does have the potential to undermine victims and impact on cases.

‘Naturally as police we believe the victim from the get-go, but our job is to investigate and to prove or disprove the case. We do that without fear or favour.

‘In Jersey we do get accused of being under the influence of people or being manipulated by other quarters and that is simply not true. We are not employees, we are Crown agents and so we
feel strongly about our independence. We serve the public and no one else and it does not matter who is accused of a crime – we will investigate it.’

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