The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(2497)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 10th MAY 2005
Question
Following the recent incident in which Guernsey Sea Fisheries Officers were taken to France aboard a French fishing vessel, would the President inform members what safeguards, if any, exist for Jersey's Sea Fisheries Officers in the event of an incident at sea and whether these officers are armed, and, if not, is the Committee to review this as an option?
Answer
The most common incident that faces Fishery Officers is that of the master of a detained vessel refusing to comply with the instructions to take his vessel to a port as instructed by the Fishery Officer and heading for another port with the Officer onboard. In such circumstances the best immediate protection available to a Jersey Fishery Officer, in addition to his skills at avoiding confrontation, is the trust and understanding that has developed from the long term relationship between fishermen and the authorities of Jersey. Any person obstructing a Jersey Fishery Officer is also liable on conviction to a severe fine.
In a serious incident Jersey Fishery Officers are able to call for assistance from the States of Jersey Police, the Royal Navy's Fishery Protection Squadron and from French enforcement officers based at Cherbourg.
In common with their U.K. and Guernsey counterparts, Jersey Fishery Officers are not armed and there is no intention to review that position.