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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 24th MARCH 2015
Question
Will the Chief Minister, as Chairman of the States Employment Board, explain why States employees who were known to be under investigation for alleged child abuse were not suspended as a neutral act whilst investigations were taking place? Has the Chief Minister reviewed this policy, and is he satisfied that sufficient safeguarding measures are in place to stop alleged abusers working with vulnerable individuals whilst allegations are being investigated?
Will the Chief Minister inform members how many current and past States employees were investigated in relation to child abuse and how many remained in active employment during that time?
Answer
The decision to suspend, as a neutral act, any States employee under investigation is taken on a case by case basis. The primary consideration in relation to any "return to work" assessment is the risk to the public and is dependent upon the role undertaken by the individual. The policy in relation to suspension was last reviewed by the States Employment Board on 25th March 2011.
Where allegations of abuse are under investigation by the States of Jersey Police, senior officers from the Human Resources Department liaise with both the Law Officers Department and the States of Jersey Police to ensure that decisions are made as to when and if it is safe for an individual to return to work during or after an investigation. The States of Jersey Police inform the Department if they have concerns about an individual returning to the workplace and this enables the Department to fulfil its responsibilities as set out in the safeguarding partnership board memorandum of understanding, ensuring that measures are in place to stop alleged abusers working with vulnerable individuals while allegations are being investigated.
The States Employment Board does not maintain a record of the number of current and past States employees who have been investigated in relation to child abuse. Since 2010 and the introduction of the Sex Offenders Law, Jersey Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (JMAPPA) have been in place. The States of Jersey Police Offender Management Unit, through the National Visor' IT network, maintains a register of all convicted sex offenders and liaises with UK forces over the movement of any offenders across borders.