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Legal representation of States of Jersey Police at Independent Jersey Care Inquiry

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18

WQ.222/2019

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st MAY 2019

Question

Will the Minister advise members of the reasons why the States of Jersey Police were legally represented before the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry and of the cost of such representation; and is it his assessment that the cost of this representation was value for money?

Answer

The rules governing a Committee of Inquiry are set out in the Standing Orders of the States of Jersey. Standing Order 149 allows, subject to agreement by the Committee of Inquiry, any person appearing before it to be legally represented.

The States of Jersey Police used independent legal representation in order to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

With regard to the legal costs for the States of Jersey Police, I refer to an answer provided by the Chief Minister in response to a written question on 18th July 2017:

/assemblyquestions/2017/(435)%20dep%20higgins%20to%20cm%20re%20f ull%20cost%20of%20legal%20representation%20for%20states%20departments%20at%20the%20indepe ndant%20care%20inquiry.pdf.

The response to this question stated that the total legal costs for the States of Jersey Police were £1,290,428. I am not in a position to judge whether the legal costs were value for money.