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LONDON - The search of a former care home in Jersey at the centre of a child abuse inquiry could last another four weeks, police said on Monday.
They are searching the building, now used as a youth hostel, as part of an inquiry into abuse on the island between the 1950s and 2003.
Officers have dug out a bricked-up underground chamber containing what appears to be a stone bath-tub.
Jersey Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper said the discovery of the bath corroborated evidence given by people claiming they had been abused in the cellar.
He said a 'huge amount' of calls had been made to police over the weekend by people saying they were abuse victims or had witnessed abuse.]
He said the large volume of calls meant police were now considering setting up a dedicated team to talk to victims or witnesses.
More than 160 people had already contacted police saying they had been abused at the Haut de la Garenne home.
Police are still waiting for analysis on a fragment of a child's skull found at the home under a layer of concrete by a sniffer dog.
It remains unclear whether the child's remains are connected with the incidents that led to the police inquiry.
'It could turn out to be a red herring,' Harper told reporters. 'We have to have it examined to see which period of time it came from.'
He said archaeologists working with police had unearthed more items, possibly bone pieces, after a further excavation of the area where the skull fragment was found.
'They are possibly portions of bone,' said Harper. 'We might have to send them off before we know anything of significance.'
Harper said there were no missing children on the Jersey police books.
Police have identified more than 40 suspects but have so far only charged one person in connection with the abuse inquiry.
- REUTERS.
