JEP online 23 March 2010
A FORMER detective superintendent from South Wales Police has been named as the officer who resigned less than a week into a top job at the States of Jersey police.Superintendent Paul Kemp was chosen to head Jersey’s historical abuse inquiry but left after a few days in the job. Yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand said he believed that the officer might have been put of by the ‘vicious and scurrilous’ attacks left on some internet blog sites, or because the structure of the police force was ‘quite different’ and more ‘hands on’ than he had expected.
The JEP has been unable to contact Mr Kemp and the States police would only release the following statement, which read: ‘Superintendent Paul Kemp was appointed to take up the role of SIO for the historical abuse inquiry.
‘Mr Kemp tendered his resignation based on personal reasons, shortly after arrival in Jersey, prior to being sworn in as a police officer.’
The JEP goes on to say:
Asked whether anyone else would be recruited for the role now that Mr Kemp had returned to the UK the police spokesperson added: “The historical abuse inquiry continues utilizing staff from the States of Jersey police and contract staff who have been working on the inquiry for some time.
“It is not intended to recruit another person specifically for this role. However, we will take external advice from experts where necessary.’
Mr Kemp, who led a number of murder investigations during his time at South Wales Police, was due to take up the role as the senior investigating officer in Jersey’s ongoing historic abuse inquiry. In 2006, the detective superintendent led an investigation into the rape and kidnap of a three year old girl abducted from her home in Wales, which culminated in a dramatic police chase.
Then in 2007 he also led a murder inquiry after a vicar was stabbed to death in front of his wife and daughter as he answered the door to his vicarage. It is understood that Mr Kemp took up the job in Jersey on Monday 1 March but left before he was due to be sworn into the Royal Court on 5 March.
He was appointed to take over from the former detective superintendent Mick Gradwell, who himself had replaced Deputy police chief Lenny Harper to continue investigating the historical abuse enquiry.
Article posted on 23rd March, 2010 - 2.57pm
The policeman who left top job after days