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WQ.298/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
BY DEPUTY J. RENOUF OF ST. BRELADE
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 30th JUNE 2025
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 7th JULY 2025
Question
"In relation to the bomb threat at the Airport in March 2025, and further to the response to Written Question 281/2025, will the Chief Minister advise –
- when the Council of Ministers first became aware that the bomb threat had been received by Ports of Jersey on 4th March 2025 and to which Minister this notice was first given;
- whether the evacuation to Strive Health Club was part of standard response procedures for the Airport that had been confirmed with the emergency services and, if not, why the Club was used; and
- which Laws, if any, prevent the public disclosure of details of threats such as these?"
Answer
- The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development met in person with members with the Harbours and Airport Authority Committee (HAAC) at 09.30 on Wednesday 5th March 2025. At that meeting, the reasons for the airport's evacuation were explained to the Minister and it was confirmed at the same meeting that the nature of the threat was by then known to be non- substantive. The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs was similarly briefed by the States of Jersey Police on the morning of the 5th March 2025.
- Ports of Jersey's emergency response procedures, and contingencies are not shared other than with those responsible for the planning and execution of those procedures. Powers and decision-making in these areas are delegated to the Harbours and Airports Committee, and relevant Ports Officers, where appropriate.
- There are both legal and common-sense practices that govern information sharing. Commonly, any agency charged with safety and public protection does not brief, or otherwise detail, its emergency response procedures for the very simple reason that those plans become less effective if they are finely understood by those who might wish to do harm.
These imperatives are enshrined in Jersey Law. The Channel Islands Aviation Security Programme (CICASP) carries a Confidential / Security Sensitive' classification and must be held securely. It may only be shared with individuals with relevant security responsibilities within appropriate agencies, all of whom are subject to enhanced security vetting.
The primary UK legislation governing the non-disclosure of security-sensitive information is the Official Secrets Act 1989. This Act prohibits the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information, particularly by current and former Crown servants, government contractors, and members of the security and intelligence services. This extends to the Aviation Security Act for the Crown Dependencies.