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WQ.167/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 12th APRIL 2021 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 19th APRIL 2021
Question
Will the Minister advise how many times since it was created the Jersey Police Authority has reviewed –
- individual cases referred to the police;
- groups of cases referred to the police;
- types of cases (e.g. rape, other sexual offences and fraud); and
- how efficiently the police investigate cases and how it goes about doing so;
and will he give examples of the cases (anonymized as appropriate) the Authority has investigated and of its findings?
Answer
The Jersey Police Authority (JPA) was established under the States of Jersey Police Force Law 2012 with a duty to ensure that the States of Jersey Police (SOJP) is an efficient and effective police force; delivers the key aims and objectives as set by the Minister within the resources available; and acts in accordance with any management policies as set by the Minister. It is also responsible for seeking from the Minister any additional resources needed by SOJP to deliver its key aims and objectives.
The JPA does not interfere in the criminal justice system and respects the operational independence of SOJP, which is required in order to allow officers to impartially investigate and prepare case files for the law officers departments. This means that the Authority does not routinely review the detail of individual cases.
The JPA Executive takes part in monthly performance board meetings and detection rates are routinely monitored and reported on. Case outcomes will often vary due to victim and or witness participation and it is envisaged that the new Victim and Witness Charter that sets out the standards of care to be expected for all victims and witnesses to crimes in Jersey which was published in January of this year, will see a change in the number of successful outcomes for our criminal justice agencies.
The JPA is reassured that SOJP officers and staff from both Uniformed and Crime Services are appropriately trained and qualified to undertake complex investigations in accordance with approved professional practice guidelines as recommended by the College of Policing UK.
The JPA measures the performance of SOJP against the objectives set out in the Annual Policing Plan and publishes the results in the States of Jersey Police Annual Report.