Tuesday 7 April 2009

Senator released over data breach

Jersey's Senator Stuart Syvret described his arrest over allegations of breaching data protection laws

A Jersey States politician arrested in connection with allegations of breaching data protection laws has been released pending further inquiries.

Police arrested 43-year-old Senator Stuart Syvret at an address in Grouville shortly after 0900 BST.

The senator and former health minister is thought to have spent six hours in custody helping police with inquiries.

A Jersey Police spokeswoman confirmed that a 43-year-old man was released on Monday afternoon.

Inquiry call

Senator Syvret was an outspoken critic of the establishment's handling of the police investigation in the island into claims of child abuse from the 1960s to 1980s.

In 2007 he was dismissed from his post as Minister for Health and Social Services after claiming abuse cases were being covered up.

The investigation focused on the former Haut de la Garenne children's home.

Hundreds of ex-residents contacted detectives with details of alleged sexual and violent assaults.

Senator Syvret, who called for both an independent inquiry and for court cases to be held on the UK mainland, was accused by the Chief Minister, Frank Walker, of damaging Jersey's reputation.