Information regarding the final disposition of the physical exhibits seized from Edward Paisnel following his arrest and conviction

​​​Request 863339549

​Under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law, I request any recorded information concerning the final disposition of the physical exhibits seized from Edward Paisnel following his arrest and conviction.

In particular, I would like to know whether the exhibits (including the mask, clothing, wristbands, weapons or other items seized as evidence) were:

Destroyed.

Returned to any individual.

Retained in police storage.

Transferred to another authority, museum or archive.

Sold or disposed of by any other means.

If records are held, I also request the date of disposal and any policy or procedure under which the disposal took place. I am not requesting photographs or the exhibits themselves, only recorded information about their final disposition.

Response

The States of Jersey Police do not hold records detailing the final disposal of the physical exhibits seized in connection with the arrest and conviction of Edward Paisnel.

We can confirm that documentary records relating to the case, including paperwork and photographic exhibits, are held by Jersey Archive.

Although no official disposal records have been located, a contemporaneous Jersey Evening Post article dated 19 December 1988 provides information regarding the fate of certain exhibits. The article reports that clothing and other objects belonging to Edward Paisnel, which had been retained by the States of Jersey Police and stored at Police Headquarters, were removed from police possession following concerns that the items could become objects of interest for individuals involved in occult practices.

As no surviving police records concerning the disposal have been identified, the States of Jersey Police cannot independently verify the details contained within the newspaper report. However, a copy of the article is attached as information relevant to your request.

A photograph relating to this matter has also been identified within the Jersey Heritage collection and can be viewed via the Jersey Heritage catalogue:

Heritage police evidence photos - Collection Search | Jersey Heritage​​