Security guards at Jersey Library (FOI)

​Request

A

How many security guards cover the Town Library? 

B

Who made the decision to bring in security? 

C

Who directly employs the security? 

D

Please breakdown the cost of this security cover for each month in 2022 and 2023.

E

How many complaints of antisocial behaviour at the Town Library have been made since 2019?

Response

A

One security guard provides cover at the Town Library.

B

The decision was made in August 2022 by Customer and Local Services, following anti-social behaviour incidents in the Town Library.

C

The security is paid for monthly by Jersey Library.

D

The total amount paid to the security company for December 2022 to December 2023 inclusive is £20,142.75. No further breakdown can be provided as the department considers that disclosure of information such as agency fees would likely prejudice the commercial interests of the department, or others. Therefore, Article 33(b) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Please note data relating to August 2022 through to November 2022 August 2022 is not held in a reportable format; therefore Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. December 2023 is up to the 17 December 2023. 

E

The total number of complaints received relating to antisocial behaviour at the Town Library are as follows:

Please note data relating to 2019 and 2020 is not held in a reportable format; therefore Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

Articles applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 33 - Commercial interests

Information is qualified exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes a trade secret; or

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information).

Public Interest Test

Article 33 is a qualified exemption and as such, the department has conducted a prejudice test as required by law. Disclosing information relating to contractual service arrangements is likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the department and others. When considering the application of this exemption, the department has determined that whilst it is in the public interest to disclose information, this is outweighed by the necessity to limit any impact on its commercial interests in contracting future security services and as such, Article 33(b) has been applied.​​