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2019.02.12
4. Deputy R. Labey of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the appointment of a new Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police: [OQ.33/2019]
What are the reasons for the time being taken to advertise for, and employ, a Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police?
Connétable L. Norman of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs):
As the Deputy , I am sure, knows the department is at the consultation stage of its target operating model. It was not sensible therefore to make substantial recruitments to the posts the Deputy mentioned while the work to develop the new structure was ongoing. Once the new structure has been confirmed appropriate recruitment processes will be put in place.
- Deputy R. Labey :
Would he give a timeline on that? I think it is a moot point whether a permanent chief officer would not have been advantageous during the consultation stage for this new model? What we have at the moment is somebody dangling with all of the responsibility and none of the power. That is an intolerable position to be in, is it not? Especially for a police chief.
The Connétable of St. Clement :
I can confirm absolutely that the acting deputy chief is not dangling whatsoever. I would commend him for the excellent work that he has done while being in this position of de facto Chief of Police. He has done the work in an exemplary manner, well supported by his management team. To answer the actual question that was asked, the target operating model, the plan is for it to be confirmed next month, after which the recruitment processes for the whole for the department, where appropriate, will take place.
- Deputy S.M. Wickenden:
The States of Jersey Police Force Law (Jersey) 2012 states that the only person that can make changes to the organisation of the police is the Chief of Police. Therefore what authority does the target operating model that is being proposed to the States of Jersey Police fall under? Which laws and powers give that right?
[10:15]
The Connétable of St. Clement :
The police law is the overriding law for the management of the States of Jersey Police. It reinforces and it makes it absolutely clear the operational independence of the States of Jersey Police, and as the Deputy knows we have a number of correspondence and email exchanges on the issue. That independence is sacrosanct on operational matters. It was reinforced by the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which was published in the spring of last year and I have committed that the recommendations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General will be put into place to reinforce the independence of the States of the Jersey Police and their reporting lines to the Jersey Police Authority on which the Deputy sits.
- Deputy S.M. Wickenden:
What is happening here is the target operating model is being created by the Minister's department to then be put in place to the States of Jersey Police. Would not the right way of looking at it be to recruit the chief officer and the deputy chief officer of the police and ask them to then come up with a model of how they want their police force to look, as the law states.
The Connétable of St. Clement :
The target operating model is not exclusively about the States of Jersey Police. It is about all the services that are provided by Home Affairs, including Customs, Fire and Ambulance as well. It is important there is co-ordination, co-operation and understanding among all of those services, not just one of them.
- Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence :
Would the Minister assure this Assembly or give assurances to this Assembly that any legislative changes needed in order to implement the target operating model are passed by this Assembly in advance of the model itself being implemented?
The Connétable of St. Clement :
It should go without saying that any legislative changes that are necessary to implement the preferred model or the appropriate model will come before this Assembly and clearly any changes which rely on law cannot be implemented until the legislative changes have been agreed.
- Deputy R.J. Ward :
The model might be broad but it includes the police and a police chief could inform the model. When will he appoint a Chief Officer of the Jersey Police Force?
The Connétable of St. Clement :
I have already answered that question and, of course, the States of Jersey Police and the acting chief officer whom I have absolute confidence in, and I am sure this Assembly has too, is making a full contribution as to the appropriate model for the entire Home Affairs family.