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Government of Jersey
Union Street | St Helier | Jersey | JE2 3DN
Deputy Catherine Curtis
Chair – Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel Via email
17 February 2025
Dear Chair
Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022
Thank you again for agreeing to move the Quarterly Hearing, I am very grateful to the Panel for their flexibility.
I am aware that there is a petition lodged with the States Greffe which asks me to consider whether the offences introduced in the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022 could be made to apply retrospectively.
I have to date avoided making public comment on the petition, as this would be outside the established process for petitions which would require me to provide a response at 1000 signatures and would require an in-committee debate at 5000 signatures. I consider that it might be unfair on those who have submitted that petition to make comment now, as it could deter potential signatories whilst the petition is still active.
On the basis that the petition has not yet reached 1000 signatures, I can confirm that I have not at this stage given this matter detailed consideration.
However, I would highlight that it is a strongly established principle of justice that new offences are not applied retrospectively on the basis that it is fundamentally unfair to criminalise someone for conduct which was not at the time of that conduct a criminal offence.
Yours sincerely
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat
Minister for Justice and Home Affairs