“Police tried to block Victoria College abuse investigation” – former officer

Wednesday 21 October 2015

A former police officer has told the abuse inquiry that senior officers did not want to investigate child abuse at Victoria College – and that evidence went missing from his desk and was later found in another officer’s locker.

Anton Cornelissen gave explosive evidence to the abuse inquiry yesterday, in which he described how:

- His Shift Inspector, Derek Upton, demanded daily updates on the 1996 investigation into abuse by a teacher at Victoria College.

- That three colleagues – John De La Haye, Trevor Garrett and Roger Pryke – all said they did not want the case investigated.

- Evidence from the case was stolen from his desk and found in Mr Pryke’s locker.

- Files from the Victoria College investigation went missing and were never recovered.

- He also criticised Lenny Harper, who ran the major child abuse inquiry in 2006.

In his evidence, Mr Cornelissen said that while he had criticised some of his former colleagues, he didn't want to undermine the work of professional police who he said were and are trying to do the right thing.

He was a paramedic in the UK before moving to Jersey to join the police in 1996 - his position as an outsider was one of the factors that got him placed on the abuse case, he told the inquiry.

The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry has also recently revealed that the Bailiff, William Bailhache, will soon be called to give evidence about prosecution decisions that he made while Attorney General.

The inquiry has heard evidence from more than 200 witnesses about their experience in care in Jersey – some have told heart-breaking stories of repeated abuse and rape, and brutal violence.