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Extracts from Questions without Notice Minister for Home Affairs – 5th June 2007
Deputy C.H. Egré:
In the light of recent events, would the Minister indicate to the Assembly what action, if any, is being proposed to create an independent body to investigate individual complaints into the actions of the States of Jersey Police?
Senator Kinnard, Minister for Home Affairs:
What are we doing about these complaints? Well, of course, there are two elements to dealing with the issue of complaints against the police: one is, of course, the independent Jersey Police Complaints Authority. That is available for members of the public, or anyone else, to make a complaint about the behaviour or the conduct of the police. It is a body that is made up of independent members. It can require another force to investigate if it considers it desirable. There is provision within that Law, as well, for a panel to sit with an independent chairman for disciplinary proceedings. There is an appeal to a panel of Jurats, also existing in the Law. We are also aware, Sir, from comments in this House, that the Police Professional Standards Department is not slow to act on accusations of police misconduct. Indeed, the public has the ability to bring a civil case. Moving on from that, Sir, there are proposals to bring to this House a police authority in the strategic plan for 2008. Action has already been taken to incorporate into our new Police Force Law the police authority. Indeed, I took the matter to the Scrutiny Panel, in February of this year, asking that they would scrutinise the proposal and respond with the Panel's views. They have yet to say that they are prepared to scrutinise that matter. There is much going on with, Sir, to deal with the issue of complaints.
Deputy F.J. Hill BEM:
The Minister just made reference to the Home Affairs Department, or herself, consulting with the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel regarding the police authority. Will the Minister confirm that the Panel does not support what Home Affairs is proposing because it is not in line with the Strategic Plan, which was approved in this House only last year.
Minister:
In the Strategic Plan it uses the words "consultative group", which was a phrase that was agreed between the Scrutiny Panel and ourselves. Since the Strategic Plan was published we have, of course, had the benefit of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to the Island. It was he who suggested that we look at the model that is used in Gibraltar. That is currently what is drafted and is just about to go to consultation, slightly wider than the immediate stakeholders. I think if the Deputy wishes to stick to his guns, just because we happen to have come up with something that he has not necessarily agreed the wording of, I would say that he would be far better to scrutinise our proposal, to give us his considered Panel's thoughts on it, rather than just sticking to his guns for no good reason, other than it was something that he happened to agree and now does not like it because we have slightly changed with the benefit of the advice of Her Majesty's Inspectorate.
Deputy F.J. Hill BEM:
Will the Minister confirm that the prime objection to what has been proposed is because it does not include the honorary police, who would like to be part of what the Minister is proposing?
Minister:
The proposal is as I have mentioned in the drafts at the moment that are about to go to consultation currently set out, because of all the difficulties that we have had in setting up a previous police authority; that we should originally, if you like, learn to walk before we run and that we should set up the police authority for the States of Jersey Police. I, as Minister, and the States of Jersey Police, have been very keen to have a police authority in place. Indeed, that decision as to whether or not the honorary police will be covered immediately at the beginning of the police authority is a matter that I am having consultations with the Constables about. In fact, I am meeting the Chairman of the Constables Committee this week to discuss those very issues as to the practicalities, Sir.