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Jersey Police Authority comments on Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Terms of Reference on proposals for The Government Plan.
Terms of Reference | Proposal alignment to criteria | Impact |
Strategic objectives | A primary responsibility of any Government, and aligned to this proposal, is to keep people safe and their property secure; in addition to Island residents, this also includes 750,000 people who visit the island each year. Public safety underpins the 5 strategic priorities set out in the Common Strategic Policy 2018-22, the priorities set out in the Children and Young People's Plan (2019-23), as well as the Island's attractiveness for inward investment and economic diversification. | The nature and demand for police services is changing as the States of Jersey Police responds to the growing threats posed by digital crime, an increased need to protect vulnerable children and adults from domestic abuse and sexual exploitation, as well as the ever present (but unseen) terrorist threat. Failing to increase capability will leave SOJP unable to meet changing environment of policing and crime. |
Public Finance Law | The Chief Officer of SOJP is the designated accountable officer in accordance with SOJP Law 2012. As such this appointed officer is fully accountable under public finances law for all matters relating to the forces financial position. | No impact. |
Resource levels | In the lead up to MTFP2A (2017-2019) the Jersey Police Authority requested an assessment of the optimal resourcing profile in relation to the delivery of an efficient and effective police service to the island. This recommended 215 FTE police officers and 115 FTE police staff, and included anticipated savings and efficiencies from the introduction of new technologies and mobile policing. This proposal was not supported and, as a consequence of MTFP2a, the States Police Force has now reduced to 190 FTE police officers. Jersey now has significantly fewer officers per 1,000 population than Guernsey, Isle of Man and Scotland. JPA are however accepting of budgetary considerations and | The States Police Force is currently under resourced. In order to meet the budget reductions, set by MTFP2A, it has had to reduce its workforce dramatically over the last 24 months; the combination of both the speed and scale of these reductions has created significant capacity and capability shortfalls. As such, the Force no longer has the technical nor leadership capacity and resilience to continue to meet current demand. This is affecting morale and contributing directly to officers leaving the service. It has also required a reduction of police services to the public, with the removal of an effective community policing service and focus on reactive demand for police services, at the expense of proactive and preventative activities. |
| consider the proposed growth to 215 police officers and 126 police staff be acceptable. |
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Department Budgets | Whilst the allocation of £821k growth in 2020 is insufficient to meet the agreed growth requirements, the HA Minister has received written assurances that the Treasury Minister will make good any shortfall during 2020. JPA considers 2020-2023 expenditure projections to be appropriate, recognizing that the Treasury has agreed to adjust 2021-2023 budget allocations to ensure the continued affordability to maintain the agreed resourcing uplift. | To ensure value for money and to validate the growth request, it has been agreed that the States Police Force will be subject to independent and specific review of demand and resources, sponsored by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies. |
Department Objectives | Dept objectives and those of the Government 2020-2023 Plan are aligned through the definition of Police 2020-2023 which is currently in final stages of review and approval | The delivery of the Policing Plan 2020-2023 is predicated on the States Police Force receiving the agreed financial growth. |
Line of Accountability | Accountability for delivery of the plan sits with the SOJP with oversight and due diligence from Police Authority |
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Sustainability | Looking to the period 2020-2023, demand for police services is expected to continue increasing, in particular in support of vulnerable children and adults, digital crime investigations and the introduction of new laws. Equally, it is important that the States Police Force continues to invest in a more proactive community policing model, and in particular strengthen its drugs investigations capability and re- introduce its direct support to Parish Policing, licensing and enhanced support for schools. | The States Police Force currently has no effective Community Policing Service, a significantly limited drugs capability and reverted to reacting to demand at the expense of proactive and preventative policing; this in turn will increase the demand for reactive policing. The States Police Force has seen significant growth in non-crime related areas, such as mental health and supporting children and vulnerable people. In areas, such as policy and strategy development, training, intelligence management and business support services, the current under- investment is unlikely to be noticed until a major problem arises, or incident occurs. For example, an incident due to an outdated policy will be seen only after the event. There is a further risk that the growth identified in the 2020-2023 Government Plan is negated by the States Police Force's contribution to the £100m savings that is also contained within the Government Plan. |