Commissioner for Standards

The Commissioner for Standards is responsible for considering complaints about the conduct of States Members.

Jersey's States Members are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and it's the job of the Commissioner for Standards to advise on whether or not they have, when faced with a complaint.

The Commissioner for Standards is also responsible for investigating complaints against Ministers and Assistant Ministers. All Ministers and Assistant Ministers are expected to comply at all times with the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and the Code of Conduct and Practice for Ministers and Assistant Ministers. This latter Code is adopted by the Council of Ministers in accordance with Article 18(3A)(b) of the States of Jersey Law 2005.

Making a complaint

If you believe that a States Member has breached the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and/or that a Minister or Assistant Minister has broken the Code of Conduct and Practice for Ministers and Assistant Ministers, you can:

Submit a complaint via the Commissioner for Standards website
E-mail the Commissioner at: Commissioner@pi-cfs.org
Write to the Commissioner for Standards, c/o States Greffe, Morier House, Halkett Place, St. Helier, Jersey, JE1 1DD

Before submitting a complaint via any of these channels, we ask that you take a few minutes to read the States Greffe Privacy Policy.

Please note, the Commissioner will not accept any complaint:

Which is made anonymously;
Which they believe to be frivolous, vexatious or unsubstantiated; or
From someone (who is not a States Member) about the words or actions of an elected Member during a States Meeting

Complaint handling process in relation to the Code of Conduct for elected States Members

Upon receipt of a complaint, the Commissioner will decide whether there are grounds to investigate.  If there are no grounds for an investigation, the complainant will be notified. Otherwise, the Commissioner will undertake an investigation and report to PPC with their conclusions and recommendations as to what action, if any, should be taken.

PPC must then review the Commissioner's report and give the States Member who was the subject of the complaint an opportunity to address PPC (accompanied, should that Member so wish).  PPC must then decide whether the Code of Conduct has been breached and what action, if any, to take. It must then inform the Member concerned of its decision. The Committee may also report its findings to the Assembly, either by means of a written report or by means of an oral statement by the Chair of PPC.

Complaint handling process in relation to the Code of Conduct and Practice for Ministers and Assistant Ministers

The procedures that apply to the Commissioner and PPC for complaints against States Members also apply in respect of complaints against Ministers and Assistant Ministers. However, for complaints against Ministers and Assistant Ministers, PPC may choose simply to publish the Commissioner's report without taking any further action itself. This affords the Chief Minister, rather than PPC, the opportunity to decide whether the Code of Conduct for Ministers and Assistant Ministers has been breached and, if so, what action to take.

The Commissioner

Dr Melissa McCullough was appointed as the Pan-Island Commissioner for Standards in March 2023. The Commissioner is appointed by the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC), which must report the appointment to the States Assembly. The appointment process and the functions of the Commissioner are set out in the Commissioner for Standards (Jersey) Law 2017. The Commissioner investigates complaints but may also initiate investigations of their own accord if they believe a breach of the Code of Conduct has occurred.  The Commissioner has the powers to summon both people and records as part of any investigation.

Hear directly from Dr McCullough about her background and experience that led to her appointment as Pan-Island Commissioner, the importance of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and the Seven Principles of Public Life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership).

Member concerned: Deputy Kirsten Morel

Date received: 17 July 2023

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report presented to the States on 4th January 2024
Member concerned: Deputy Karen Wilson and Deputy Geoff Southern

Date received: 3 May 2023

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report presented to the States on 21st December 2023

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Member concerned: Deputy Moz Scott

Date received: 24 March 2023

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report presented to the States on 29th August 2023

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Member concerned: Deputy Max Andrews

Date received: Two complaints, 29 April 2023 and 10 May 2023

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report presented to the States on 29th August 2023

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Member concerned: Deputy Kristina Moore and Deputy Kirsten Morel

Date received: 31 March 2023

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Rule 1 of the Code

Status: Report presented to the States on 20th June 2023.
Member concerned: Deputy M. Higgins Complaint reference: 14/2021

Date received: 18 May 2020

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 8 (8 Access to confidential information) and Paragraph 6 (Public comments etc. regarding a States' employee)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 20.12.2021 and presented to the States on 5th January 2022 (R.2/2022).

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Complaint reference: 13/2021

Status: CLOSED - outside of remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Complaint reference: 12/2021

Status: CLOSED - complaint not made in accordance with requirements

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Complaint reference: 10/2021

Status: CLOSED - complaint not made in accordance with requirements

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Complaint reference: 9/2021

Status: CLOSED - complaint not made in accordance with requirements

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Complaint reference: 8/2021

Status: CLOSED - no prima facie breach of the Code of Conduct

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Member concerned: Senator K. Moore Complaint reference: 7/2021

Date received: 30 March 2021

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States) and Paragraph 6 (Public comments etc. regarding a States' employee)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 26.04.2021 and presented to the States on 30.04.2021 (R.69/2021)

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Member concerned: Deputy R. Huelin Complaint reference: 6/2021

Date received: 24 March 2021

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 26.03.2021 and presented to the States on 01.04.2021 (R.54/2021)

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Member concerned: Connetable R. Buchanan Complaint reference: 5/2021

Date received: 24 March 2021

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 26.03.2021 and presented to the States on 01.04.2021 (R.55/2021)

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Member concerned: Deputy I. Gardiner Complaint reference: 4/2021

Date received: 17 March 2021

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 6 (Public comments etc. regarding a States' employee or officer)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 24.03.2021 and presented to the States on 01.04.2021 (R.53/2021

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Complaint reference: 3/21

Status: CLOSED - social media dispute

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Complaint reference: 2/21

Status: CLOSED - social media dispute

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Complaint reference: 1/21

Status: CLOSED - no prima facie breach of the Code of Conduct
Complaint reference: 12/20

Status: CLOSED - outside of remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Complaint reference: 11/20

Status: CLOSED - outside of remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Complaint reference: 9/20

Status: CLOSED - complaint not made in accordance with requirements

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Complaint reference: 8/20

Status: Pending

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Member concerned: Deputy M. Tadier Complaint reference: 7/20

Date received: 17 June 2020

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 09.07.2020 and presented to the States on 15.07.2020 (R.72/2020)

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Complaint reference: 6/20

Status: CLOSED - outside of remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Complaint reference: 5/20

Status: CLOSED - outside of remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Complaint reference: 4/20

Status: CLOSED - outside of remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Complaint reference: 3/20

Status: CLOSED - outside of remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Member concerned: Deputy S.M. Wickenden Complaint reference: 2/20

Date received: 18 May 2020

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 12.06.2020 and presented to the States on 19.06.2020 (R.61/2020

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Complaint reference: 1/20

Status: CLOSED - no prima facie breach of the Code of Conduct
Complaint reference: 4/19

Status: CLOSED - concerned policy matters, or a Members' views or opinions

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Member concerned: Deputy S.J. Pinel Complaint reference: 3/19

Date received: 13 May 2019

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 2 (Public duty)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 11.06.19 and presented to the States on 20.06.2019 (R.74/2019)

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Member concerned: Deputy M. Tadier Complaint reference: 2/19

Date received: Self-referral on 2 April 2019 and complaint received 11 April 2019

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 6 (Public comments etc. regarding a States' employee or officer)

Status: Report submitted to PPC on 16.05.2019 and presented to the States on 13.09.2019 (R.118/2019)

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Complaint reference: 1/19

Status: CLOSED - no prima facie breach of the Code of Conduct
Complaint reference: 9/18
Status: CLOSED - outside the remit of the Commissioner for Standards

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Complaint reference: 8/18
Status: CLOSED - not within the scope of the Code of Conduct

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Complaint reference: 7/18
Status: CLOSED - concerned a Member's views or opinions

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Member concerned: Deputy S.Y. Mezec Complaint reference: 6/18

Date received: 3 April 2018

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Full investigation complete - Report submitted to PPC on 26.03.2018 and presented to the States on 30.04.2018 (R.63/2018).

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Complaint reference: 5/18

Status: CLOSED - failure by Complainant to respond

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Complaint reference: 4/18

Status: CLOSED - lack of evidence

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Member concerned: Senator S.C. Ferguson Complaint reference: 3/18

Date received: 23 February 2018

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 3 (Personal conduct)

Status: Full investigation complete - remedial action agreed - Report submitted to PPC on 19.02.2018 and presented to the States on 16.03.2018 (R.30/2018).

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Member concerned: Deputy S.Y. Mezec Complaint reference: 2/18

Date received: 14 February 2018

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: CLOSED - frivolous / vexatious

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Member concerned: Deputy R.G. Bryans Complaint reference: 1/18

Date received: 24 January 2018

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Full investigation complete - Report submitted to PPC on 04.04.2018 and presented to the States on 06.04.2018 (R.44/2018).
Member concerned: Senator A.K.F. Green M.B.E. and Deputy E.J. Noel Complaint reference: 5/17

Date received: 22 December 2017

Alleged breach of Code of Conduct re. planning issue and documents / information supplied: Articles 3 and 5 (Personal conduct and Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Full investigation complete - Report submitted to PPC on 04.04.2018 and presented to the States on 06.04.2018 (R.43/2018).

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Member concerned: Senator P.F.C. Ozouf Complaint reference: 4/17

Date received: 9 October 2017 and self referral on 22 November 2017

Alleged breaches of both Code of Conduct for Elected Members and Code of Conduct and Practice for Ministers and Assistant Ministers: Articles 3 and 5 (Personal Conduct and Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: Full investigation complete - Report submitted to PPC on 19.02.2018 and presented to the States on 05.03.2018 (R.22/2018).

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Member concerned: Deputy S.Y. Mezec Complaint reference: 3/17

Date received: 8 September 2017

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: CLOSED - frivolous / vexatious

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Member concerned: Deputy M.R. Higgins Complaint reference: 2/17

Date received: 7 September 2017

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraphs 6 and 8 (Public comments etc. regarding a States' employee or officer and Access to confidential information)

Status: Full investigation complete - Report submitted to PPC on 24.05.2018 and presented to the States on 23.01.2019 (R.7/2019).

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Member concerned: Deputy A. Lewis Complaint reference: 1/17

Date received: 7 September 2017

Relevant paragraph of Code of Conduct: Paragraph 5 (Maintaining the integrity of the States)

Status: CLOSED - duplication of earlier complaint resolved by PPC.