St. Helier Waterfront Telephone Poll - Committee of Inquiry – appointment of President

STATES OF JERSEY

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ST. HELIER WATERFRONT TELEPHONE POLL: COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY – APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDENT

Lodged au Greffe on 4th October 2005 by Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of St. Clement

STATES GREFFE

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to r e fer to their Act dated 28th September 2005 in which they agreed to approve the appointment of a

Committee of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attempt to distort the result of the telephone poll on the St.  Helier Waterfront development organised by the Jersey Evening Post on 5th August 2005 and –

(a ) to agree that the terms of reference of the Committee should be –

" T o e s t ab  li sh t h e i d entity of the person or persons who attempted to distort the result of the telephone poll on the St.  Helier Waterfront development organised by the Jersey Evening Post on 5th August 2005 by making a substantial number of multiple calls to the vote line."

(b ) to agree, in accordance with the provisions of Article 36B(2) of the States of Jersey Law 1966, that

the Committee of Inquiry should consist of only one person and to appoint Mr. Samuel Snowden Le Breton as President.

DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT

REPORT

I thank members for supporting my proposition to create a Committee of Inquiry to establish who made the telephone calls in an attempt to corrupt the waterfront telephone poll run by the Jersey Evening Post on 5th August 2005.

In order to put that into effect, terms of reference and the constitution of the committee need to be agreed by the States.

I trust the terms of reference are self-explanatory. With regard to committee constitution I am proposing one member, as suggested during the previous debate, and as permitted by the States of Jersey Law 1966. Clearly that person needs to be conversant with States and Departmental procedures and therefore I initially had in mind either a retired States member, retired civil servant or a lawyer.

I  thank  all  those  who  suggested  names  to  me,  and  also  those  who  offered  their  services.  Of  the  latter, Mr.  Le  Breton has excellent credentials for the job and accordingly I recommend him for the post as president o the Committee of Inquiry. A brief CV is appended.

With regard to queries during the debate as to whether the Committee might cease to exist come Ministerial government, I have checked on the matter and am satisfied the committee would continue should it need to. I would, however, expect the work to be completed well before that date.

As stated in my initial proposition on this subject I am hopeful that the financial and manpower implications of this inquiry will be minimal.

APPENDIX

Samuel Snowdon Le Breton:

Born in Jersey, attended St. Saviour and Hautlieu schools.

Joined States of Jersey Police as a Cadet.

1964 – became a Constable ; one of the first Jersey recruits to undergo training in UK. Married in 1966.

1973 – set up Special Branch Ports Unit with 2 other officers.

1977 – promoted to sergeant.

Sergeant in charge of St. Brelade's substation and Training sergeant.

1986 – promoted to Acting Inspector.

Inspector of Training and Recruiting all staff.

President of Police Association.

Promoted Superintendent from Chief Inspector in charge of Uniformed Operations.

1995 to 1997 headed Support unit for Contingency Planning, Press and Public Relations, Police Complaints and Discipline.

1997 – retired after 35  years' service, having represented the Force on a number of committees such as Victim Support, Misuse of Drugs Strategy Group, Legal actions against Police, New Magistrates Court Group and Female Victims of Crime Procedures Group.

Director of Jersey Mutual.

1999 – appointed to Board of Arbitrators panel. 2001/2004 – part-time Greffier Substitute, Judicial Greffe. 2005 – member of Jersey Employment Tribunal.