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Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 11 January 2018

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Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date: 11th January 2018

 

Present

Deputy J. M. Maçon, Vice-Chairman Deputy T. A. Vallois  

Deputy S. Y. Mézec

Apologies

Deputy L. M. C. Doublet , Chairman

Absent

 

In attendance

Dr H. Miles , Director Criminal Justice, Community and Constitutional Affairs Mr  N.  Fox,  Assistant  Director  Criminal  Justice,  Community  and Constitutional Affairs

Ms G. Hutchinson, Policy Principle, Community and Constitutional Affairs Mr M. Berry, Legal Advisor, Law Officers Department

Mr J. Van Neste, Law Officers Department

Mr M. Waddington, Law Draftsman

Mr A. Harris , Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

Item 3 08/01/17

516/50

1.  Briefing on Draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 201-

The Panel received Dr H. Miles , Director Criminal Justice, Community and Constitutional Affairs, Mr N. Fox, Assistant Director Criminal Justice, Community  and  Constitutional  Affairs,  Ms  G.  Hutchinson,  Policy Principle, Community and Constitutional Affairs , Mr M. Berry, Legal Advisor,  Law  Officers  Department,  Mr  J.  Van  Neste,  Law  Officers Department and Mr M. Waddington, Law Draftsman for a briefing on the Draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 201- ("the draft law") that was due to be lodged for debate on 23rd January 2018.

Dr H. Miles explained the background of the draft law to the Panel and noted that it was a priority for the Minister for Home Affairs. It was intended that the draft law would operate in tandem with the  Draft Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and the Draft Criminal Procedure (Bail) Law 201- in codifying offences of a sexual nature, and offering more protection to victims and witnesses. It was explained that the draft law was intended to bring Jersey in line with international best practice in order  to  comply  with  various  conventions,  including  the  Istanbul Convention on the Rights of Women.

The draft law had been the subject of a full consultation with various stakeholders  and  12  responses  had  been  received  giving feedback during the process. It was noted that a number of victims of sexual offences were willing to speak with the Panel to outline the positive changes included in the draft law.

The Panel agreed that it would undertake a review of the draft law, and recalled that it would write to a selection of experts on sexual offences law in to gather their views on the proposed legislation. It was also agreed

 

 

 

that the Panel would identify key stakeholders in order to seek their views also.