Scotland Yard may be called in to help with unsolved murders in Anguilla

Friday, February 20, 2004

THE VALLEY, Anguilla: Law enforcement authorities in Anguilla may be looking to Britain's Scotland Yard to assist with two unsolved murders. One is that of sixteen year old Jamida Webster. Jamida was reported missing at about 9:55 pm on Thursday 13th March 2003 by her father Kent Webster after she failed to return home from cycling.

Officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force responded and along with family and residents of the surrounding communities conducted a search on the night of 13th March but could not locate Jamida.

The search continued on Friday 14th March and at 12:11pm her body was discovered in bushes.

In the second incident, investigations are still continuing into the circumstances surrounding the death of 42-year-old Roger Anthony Clarke - a national of Nevis.

At about 10.50 am on Thursday 18th September 2003 Police Officers were called to the home of Roger Clarke. On arrival officers found the lifeless body of Roger Anthony Clarke lying in a pool of blood.

On Wednesday of this week, Jamida's parents Kent Webster and Iris Hughes presented a petition signed by 4,703 persons to His Excellency the Governor Peter Johnstone. 

According to a release from Government House the petition noted that the Royal Anguilla Police Force, operating with limited resources needs the assistance of Scotland Yard to help solve the murder of Jamida Webster.

In accepting the petition the Governor said that following detailed discussions with the Commissioner of Police, he and the Commissioner had decided on 3rd February to seek the assistance of London's Metropolitan Police with this investigation and with that into the murder of Roger Clarke.

They had been persuaded to do this for two reasons: Scotland Yard had much more experience in dealing with murder cases, and although the Royal Anguilla Police Force had itself successfully prosecuted persons for murder in Anguilla, their experience with difficult investigations was more limited. 

And secondly there was a lack of firm useful information coming from the public in spite of the posting of a reward, and it had been suggested that the public would be more willing to speak to Scotland Yard officers than members of the local police force.

The case for assistance was put to Scotland Yard on 5th February and on 9th February they carried out an assessment on the resources that they would require and the time they would need to fully complete the investigation.

The request was then passed on to a senior level in Scotland Yard for a final decision. The Metropolitan Police has its own capacity restraints so all requests for assistance from outside police forces have to be considered at senior level. The Chief of Police here in Anguilla is hoping for a reply within the next week or so.

The release notes however that Scotland Yard services would only be provided on a cost recovery basis, so the Governor and the Commissioner of Police have already alerted the Anguilla Government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the fact that the Royal Anguilla Police Force budget will be insufficient to cover such major costs.

Both the Commissioner of Police and the Governor have pledged their sustained attention to the solving of these serious crimes.

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