Justice and Home Affairs: Transfer of funding for Firearms Training and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre

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A decision made 17 April 2020:

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2020-0009
Decision Summary Title:	Transfer of funding from capital to fund firearms training costs and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre		Date of Decision Summary:	16th April 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Head of Financial Governance		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Transfer of funding from capital to fund firearms training costs and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre		Date of Written Report:	16th April 2020
Written Report Author:	Head of Financial Governance		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Transfer of funding from Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Minor Capital Head of Expenditure (DH0MC10006) to JHA Revenue Head of Expenditure to fund firearms training and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in 2020.
Decision(s): The Minister approved a non-recurring budget transfer in 2020 of up to £260,000 to JHA Revenue Head of Expenditure from JHA Minor Capital Head of Expenditure (DH0MC10006) to fund firearms training and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in 2020.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 18(1)(a) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that a specified amount appropriated for one head of expenditure may, with the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, be used for the purposes of another head of expenditure that is set out in the government plan. Article 18(4) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the Minister shall give the States Assembly at least 4 weeks’ notice before an amount is transferred under paragraph (1)(a). P.28/2020 Draft Public Finances (Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 202-, approved by the States Assembly on 24th March 2020, agreed a number of temporary modifications to the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 one of which stated; to remove the requirement in Article 18 that if the Minister proposes to give a direction to re-allocate a head of expenditure, the Minister gives the States at least 4 weeks’ notice. Article 18(5) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that before giving notice under paragraph (4), the Minister shall, in relation to any States funded body, consult the Minister responsible for that body. The relevant Minister has been consulted and has agreed to the transfer of funds.
Resource Implications: The JHA revenue head of expenditure will increase by up to £260,000 and the JHA Minor Capital head of expenditure (DH0MC10006) will decrease by up to £260,000. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Government Plan for 2020-23.
Action required: The Head of Financial Governance to notify the Head of Finance Business Partnering for JHA once the decision has been signed.
Signature:		Position: Deputy S J Pinel, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Transfer of Funding: Justice and Home Affairs : Firearms Training and Additional Staff Costs

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GoJ logo red English Treasury and Exchequer

Ministerial Decision Report

Transfer of funding from capital to fund firearms training costs and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre

Purpose of Report

To enable the Minister to approve the non-recurring budget transfer of up to £260,000 to JHA revenue head of expenditure from JHA Minor Capital head of expenditure (DH0MC1006) to fund firearms training and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

Background

Transfers are proposed in 2020 from the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Minor Capital head of expenditure to the JHA revenue head of expenditure to meet two high priority needs in 2020.

Firearms Range

A report produced by the National Rifle Association (NRA) Range Safety Advisor following his visit in March 2018 stated with the possible exception of basic training and sniper training, the Crabbe complex was not suitable for such tactical training that the Island Police should undertake. Tactical training on the Crabbe range complex clearly increased the hazard of rounds escaping and was not deemed suitable for 180 degree judgmental shooting practices, including vehicle dismounting firing practices, a key skill for police tactical training.

Since then all live firing of M4 and rifles carried out by the Tactical Firearms Unit has been undertaken off island as there are no suitable facilities available on island. Delivery of live firearms training in the UK incurs significant cost which is not provided for in the current police budget.

A capital business case is being developed and put forward for inclusion in the 2021 Government Plan to provide a purpose built range at Crabbe. Training will still need to be conducted off island in 2020 at an estimated cost of up to £110,000, which is currently unbudgeted.

Sexual Assault Referral Centre Staff Costs

Additional funding is required to continue to invest in the Sexual Assault Centre (SARC) and to further develop it into a Child’s House Model in order to provide integrated support to children who are victims of sexual abuse. This is a key vehicle to achieving several of the priorities set out by the Government of Jersey and in particular those committed to in the Children’s Plan.

Dewberry House is an integral service to the Island providing support to victims of sexual abuse whether this happened recently or in the past. The current availability of this service still needs further development, especially when it comes to the youngest service users, the children. The aim will be to provide them with an integrated package of medical and psychological care as well as legal support and protection. All this will be delivered from one location and will prevent children and young people from having to access various different services and repeat their story. The additional cost of this work in 2020 is estimated at up to £150,000.

3. Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve a non-recurring budget transfer in 2020 of up to £260,000 to JHA Revenue Head of Expenditure from JHA Minor Capital Head of Expenditure (DH0MC10006) to fund firearms training and additional staff costs for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

4. Reason for Decision

Article 18(1)(a) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that a specified amount appropriated for one head of expenditure may, with the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, be used for the purposes of another head of expenditure that is set out in the government plan.

Article 18(4) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the Minister shall give the States Assembly at least 4 weeks’ notice before an amount is transferred under paragraph (1)(a). P.28/2020 Draft Public Finances (Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 202-, approved by the States Assembly on 24th March 2020, agreed a number of temporary modifications to the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 one of which stated; to remove the requirement in Article 18 that if the Minister proposes to give a direction to re-allocate a head of expenditure, the Minister gives the States at least 4 weeks’ notice.

Article 18(5) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that before giving notice under paragraph (4), the Minister shall, in relation to any States funded body, consult the Minister responsible for that body.

The relevant Minister has been consulted and has agreed to the transfer of funds.

5. Resource Implications

The JHA revenue head of expenditure will increase by up to £260,000 and the JHA minor capital head of expenditure (DH0MC10006) will decrease by up to £260,000 in 2020.

This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Government Plan for 2020-23.

Report author : Head of Finance Business Partnering	Document date 16th April 2020
Quality Assurance / Review :Head of Financial Governance	File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2020-0009 - JHA minor capital to revenue transfers
MD Sponsor: Treasurer of the States