Police dog handler (FOI)

​Request

I have read the extremely well written 'Operation Haven' report (into the separate enquiry made by Wiltshire Police) into the Haut de la Garenne investigation and, in particular, the references in it to former police dog handler [name redacted].

I originally submitted this question to Wiltshire Police, who wrote the report, and they suggested I should resubmit to you.

There are two questions that puzzle me, and that the report, I think, doesn't answer.

A

How did [dog handler, name redacted] come to be recruited to work on the Haute de la Garenne enquiry in the first place?

B

Who recruited the dog handler?

Response

A

In December 2007, at the request of Deputy Chief Officer Harper, the States of Jersey Police Scientific Services Manager commissioned the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC), a UK forensic science service provider, to carry out a desk top assessment of the Haut De La Garenne site for potential clandestine burials. At the time, LGC was the only forensic service provider to offer a similar service. The report proposed a recommended search strategy. This included that the grounds should be searched for human remains involving the use of various specialists including a cadaver dog.

B

The author of the report suggested a particular individual as a potential option for providing a cadaver dog. The States of Jersey Police Scientific Services Manager approached the National Policing Improvement Agency (now National Crime Agency) about the individual’s suitability. They had the individual on their register of expert advisors and their curriculum vitae (CV) was forwarded to the States of Jersey Police for consideration. One of the individual’s referees was at the time the National Homicide Search Advisor and was spoken to on 25 January 2008. 

Deputy Chief Officer Harper was advised that the States of Jersey Police Scientific Services Manager recommend that the individual be part of the team. Deputy Chief Officer Harper made the final decision.

The name of the dog handler has been redacted as it is absolutely exempt information (3rd party Personal Data) under Article 25(2) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.