Number of States police officers at the Royal Jersey Showground and Howard Davis Park on 1st and 2nd of September what was the cost of policing each event and how many officers from outside the Island

2.5  The Deputy of St. Martin of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the number of States Police Officers engaged on duty in connection with recent functions, the cost of policing of each event and whether any officers were brought in from outside the Island:

Will the Minister inform Members of the number of States police officers engaged on duty in connection with the functions at (1) the Royal Jersey Showground and (2) Howard Davis Park on Friday and Saturday, 1st and 2nd of September? What was the cost of policing each event and how many officers, if any, were brought in from outside the Island?

Senator W. Kinnard (The Minster for Home Affairs):

On Friday, 1st September 2006 there were a total of 4 officers engaged on duty at no additional cost to the force as rest days were re-rostered. On Saturday, 2nd September 2006 there were a total of 61 officers engaged on duty at a total additional cost to the force of £30,900. Rest days were also re-rostered for this. Nine officers were brought from outside of the Island for the Saturday event and there were no additional costs as rest days were re-rostered.

1. The Deputy of St. Martin :

Can I ask, why was it necessary to have officers from outside the Island and was the Minister's consent required before they came in?

Senator W. Kinnard:

The Deputy may well have noticed that there were 2 events going on obviously on the Saturday night and we are a small force that is dedicated obviously to the protection of our community. This is a very large event at Jersey Live and it was felt necessary that we should bring in additional officers from outside the Island with public order specialism. Yes, I was consulted about this and agreed to their being brought to the Island.

2. The Deputy of St. Martin :

The Minister  mentioned there was  no cost to the Island that these officers were brought in from outside of the U.K.. What arrangement have we got? Does it mean that when we send officers to the U.K. we pay for them ourselves? Is it just a reciprocal arrangement?

Senator W. Kinnard:

There is a mutual aid agreement that does exist between forces and on this occasion, Sir, that, I believe, was the case.

3. Deputy D.W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence : Will the Minister advise the House ...

Senator W. Kinnard:

Sorry, Sir, can I just correct something I have just said. There was a cost but the cost was to do with travel, hotel and their wages of £27,000. Sorry, Sir, I did miss that. So the cost of the U.K. officers is calculated by that amount.

The Deputy Bailiff :

So you are saying there was a cost?

Senator W. Kinnard:

I am saying that at Jersey Live on 2nd September, the cost of the U.K. officers was £27,000.

Deputy D.W. Mezbourian :

Will the Minister advise the House of the 9 officers who were brought to the Island, were they deployed at all in policing activities or were they retained to be used if necessary?

Senator W. Kinnard:

That is an operational question which I do not have the specific answer to, but what I would say, Sir, is that even if I did I am not sure it is a question that I would necessarily wish to answer in open forum. But clearly if it is a question that the Deputy wishes to have answered I am sure that I could get that information to her after this sitting, Sir.

4. The Connétable of St. Helier :

Would the Minister like to acknowledge the tremendous involvement and assistance provided free of charge by the Parishes honorary police?

Senator W. Kinnard:

Indeed. In fact, Sir, it was a little line that I was intending to say but unfortunately, I think, got distracted. We, of course, in addition, were very ably assisted by our

honorary colleagues and indeed I know that a message that I received in terms of

feedback from the Chief of Police the day after the Jersey Live event certainly sang the praises very highly of the contribution made by the honorary police.

5. Connétable K.P. Vibert of St. Ouen :

Just for the avoidance of doubt, the Minister in her first reply quoted £30,900 as the cost of the event and then later pointed out £27,000 for the officers brought in from outside the Island. Is that a total figure of £57,900?

Senator W. Kinnard:

No, Sir, it is not. There is an overtime cost to States of Jersey Police at the Jersey Live event which was £3,900 and then £27,000 for travel, hotel and wages of the U.K. officers, which makes a total of £30,900.

6. Deputy G.C.L. Baudains:

I wonder if the Minister would be kind enough to circulate these figures to Members during the day because I am certainly confused. It does appear to me we are paying police officers about £6,000 a day.

Senator W. Kinnard:

I am more than happy to distribute the figures and I think it is wrong to assume things off the cuff like that without the detailed information. But I am happy to provide the figures.

7. Deputy J.B. Fox:

Appreciating the police requirements and numbers are operational and therefore the Minister is unlikely to give me any answers in public, but on the other hand can the Minister give me an assurance that the rest of the Island was appropriately policed and safeguarded, especially as other areas of the Island can become vulnerable when it is known there are special events by the criminal fraternity, et cetera. Thank you.

Senator W. Kinnard:

I am grateful for that question because it is becoming of increasing concern to me that events are being organised without really, I think, due regard to the fact that we on the Island have a police force which is suitable to policing the size of our community.

Then on events such as this we have to bring out every single officer virtually to police these events and adequate police the rest of the Island. That includes bringing out, to go out on foot patrol duty, people who would ordinarily work in parts of the States of Jersey Police such the Jersey Financial Crimes Unit, the Firearms Unit, et cetera. I think that I am becoming increasingly concerned, as I have said, at events that are being planned, I believe, in this Island without due regard to the restrictions in terms of the size of the force that we have and the resources that we have to police them.

The Deputy Bailiff : Final question, Deputy .

8. The Deputy of St. Martin :

Given the general good behaviour of people in Jersey who attend concerts, et cetera, does the Minister not think that employing so many officers at such great cost to the Island is really an operation overkill and greater consideration should be given to employment or deployment of officers when we have such events?

Senator W. Kinnard:

I have just explained that in these kind of scenarios all the officers that we can get from our local force are on duty. There are moratoriums on taking holidays and so on. All hands are to the deck so to speak. I do not believe that £27,000 to cover the travel, hotel and wages of the 6 officers from outside the U.K. is excessive given their specialism. Indeed, Sir, you cannot win in this situation. If there is a scenario where something goes wrong then I would assume that the Deputy would be one of the first on my back complaining that we had not adequately planned to deal with this situation. Sir, as I mentioned these events are being organised and I am not convinced, Sir, that is

The Deputy Bailiff :

I think if you have mentioned it already you probably do not need to repeat again.

Senator W. Kinnard:

sufficient consultation with the States of Jersey Police in their organisation.