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5.16 The Deputy of St. John of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the number of people who do not have British nationality working within the States of Jersey Police Force:
The poor Minister for Home Affairs is getting quite a busy morning. Would the Minister inform the Assembly how many people who do not have British nationality are working within the States of Jersey Police Force and, of these, how many have full residential qualifications and how many are working under (j) category status?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand (The Minister for Home Affairs):
I do not know the exact number but an estimation has been made as well as possible. I am surprised to find that the nationality of employees is not recorded among the HR information. The number working in the Jersey Police Force, we think, is approximately 29 of whom 23 have full residential qualifications and none are working under a (j) category.
- The Deputy of St. John :
Firstly can I say I am aghast. I am aghast that the States of Jersey Police who deal in fact do not know the number of police officers who are non-British within their force. That to me is a shock. Well, it is not after some of the questions that have been answered this morning. Will the Minister made an inquiry and come back at a future meeting with the exact number of non British nationals working within the force? Secondly, will he ...
Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Is this not discriminatory, the inference behind the question?
The Deputy of St. John :
Will he give us details of how many British people have applied to join the States of
Jersey Police force over the last 4 years, and also the nationality of the non-British persons who are working within the force?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
Again it would be helpful if I had a written question for future occasions so I can be sure I am providing exactly what is required. I welcome the fact that we do have
people who are [Approbation] of different nationalities. Indeed, Members may
recall on a previous occasion I indicated that among the recent intake there were 2 Polish officers, one officer who I suspect is Portuguese and one Australian officer. Of
the 3 prize winners, 2 of them were Polish. [Approbation] But nevertheless I share
the surprise of the Deputy that we do not have this information because I would have
thought we would have wanted such information to check that we had some degree of
diversity in terms of different groups, apart from anything else. If the Deputy would
care to ask me a written question or if he prefers just to ask me informally but it
would be helpful if he could define precisely what he would like.
- Senator S.C. Ferguson:
I would like to ask the Minister, I am somewhat curious because the oath that police officers take, the swearing in the name of the Crown and the Queen, does this not present problems?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
No, because that was changed some time ago. I believe there was an Irish person who might have had difficulties in swearing allegiance to the Crown and the form of the oath was then changed to avoid that situation.
- Deputy D.J. De Sousa:
Does the Minister not consider that the diversity of the police service is enhanced by the fact that we do have people from the Polish, the Portuguese, the Australian communities working within our police service?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
Yes, very much so. I thought that is what I said before but if it was not clear I say it again.
- The Deputy of St. John :
I am not aspersing any comments on foreign nationals working within our police force but what we do need to know are the numbers. Also, can the Minister confirm that we also have members of foreign nationals working within our honorary police force? I am aware that it happens. Does he know the numbers within that particular area?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
I believe that to be so and I welcome that also but, of course, I do not have any figures because I had no notice of that question.