Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police: Appointment

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made on 21st October regarding the appointment of the Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2010-0069
Decision Summary Title :	Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police Proposition		Date of Decision Summary:	18 October 2010
Decision Summary Author:	Executive Officer Home Affairs		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Appointment of the next Chief Officer States of Jersey Police		Date of Written Report:	18 October 2010
Written Report Author:	HR Director Home Affairs		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Appointment of the Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police.
Decision(s): The Minister decided to propose the appointment of Mr Michael Bowron as Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police for a period of six years with effect from the 4th January 2011, and approved a report and proposition recommending the above appointment.
Reason(s) for Decision: The current Acting Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police is due to leave the Island at the end of December 2010. Following a recruitment and interview process that was overseen by the Appointments Commission, the panel involved in the appointment made a strong recommendation to the Minister that Mr Bowron be appointed to the role of Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police. Article 9 of the Police Force (Jersey) Law 1974 stipulates that the Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police, shall be appointed by the States.
Resource Implications: There are no additional financial or manpower implications arising from this proposition.
Action required: The Executive Officer, Home Affairs, to request the Greffier of the States to arrange for the attached Proposition to be lodged ‘au Greffe’ for consideration by the States on 16th November 2010.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Home Affairs
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police: Appointment

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion –

in accordance with the provisions of Article 9(1) of the Police Force (Jersey) Law 1974, to appoint Mr Michael Bowron as Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police for a period of six years from 4 January 2011 until 3 January 2017

MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS

18 October 2010

REPORT

Appointment of the next Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police

In accordance with the provisions of Article 9(1) of the Police Force (Jersey) Law 1974, the Minister for Home Affairs is seeking the approval of the States to the appointment of the next Chief Officer of Police.

In the August 2010, an advertisement was placed in the UK to find the next Chief Officer of Police, to commence in 2011, when the current Acting Chief Officer leaves the Island.

A number of candidates were interviewed against a full competency requirement for Chief Officer and the panel unanimously selected Mr Michael Bowron.

The Appointments Panel consisted of:

Mr Alan Merry – Chairman of the Appointments Commission

Mr Brian Curtis – Appointments Commission Representative

Senator Ian Le Marquand – Home Affairs Minister

Mr W Ogley – Chief Executive

Ms R Davies – Human Resources Director

Mr Bernard Hogan-Howe – Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary

The panel have made a strong recommendation to the Minister that Mr Bowron be appointed to the post of Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police, when the current Acting Chief Officer leaves the Island.

The Proposition is for an appointment for a period of six years commencing on 4 January 2011. The making of an appointment by the States for a fixed period of time is a departure from previous practice. The Minister believes that any extension of the term of office of the Chief Officer of Police should be approved by the States.

The Minister recommends that Mr Michael Bowron is appointed to the post of Chief Officer, States of Jersey Police, with effect from 4 January 2011, for the period of six years.

There are no additional financial or manpower implications arising from this proposition as Mr Bowron will be replacing the existing Acting Chief Officer when he takes up his appointment.

Biography – Mr Mike Bowron

Mr Bowron, is the Commissioner (Commanding Officer and the equivalent of Chief Constable) for the City of London Police, having been promoted to the role in 2006. The City Of London Police is a small force with an establishment of 1,200 employees including 850 Police Officers and a resident population of 8,043 with 4,421 households. These numbers are increased by the daily influx of approximately 350,000 commuters working in the City and approxixmately 500,000 tourists.

Mr Bowron has a BA (Hons) in Sociology from Sussex University in 1989 and worked in the insurance market before joining Sussex Police in 1980, attending the Special Course in 1984. He served in a range of uniform roles up to Chief Superintendent level, including Head of Operations at Brighton and as Head of the Force Inspectorate. In 1995 he completed the Strategic Command Course and was appointed as Assistant Chief Constable (Operations) in Kent in 1997.

In 2000 he was seconded for the purpose of advising the British Government on reform of the Indonesian Police. He returned to Kent in 2001 and took responsibility for Central Operations which included the Crime function. He helped develop the Kent Policing Model which subsequently became the National Intelligence Model (NIM). In 2002 he became the Assistant Commissioner for the City of London Police. He was an active member of Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Terrorist and Allied Matters (TAM) and ACPO Cabinet. He had responsibility for all operational matters.

He was awarded the Queens Policing Medal in 2007

His major achievements are:

· He became a Basic Command Unit Commander in Sussex with only eleven years service.

· He was a Member of ACPO Media Advisory Group and was National Police ‘spokesman’ on issues such as the national fire strike and the Iraq war.

· He has overseen a 40% fall in crime during his time with the City of London Police.

· He has led a re-branding and restructuring of the City of London Police

· He has negotiated with the Attorney General for the Force to become the first to have ‘Lead Force Status’ for Economic Crime and Fraud.

· As Assistant Commissioner he introduced ‘Project Griffin’ which was designed to engage the private sector in the defence against Terrorism.

· He was Head of operations for the City’s response to the Aldgate Underground site following the 7/7 bombings.

· He is currently the ACPO lead on Economic Crime as well as Business Continuity

· He launched the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

· He graduated from the FBI Academy, Quantico in 2007

Mike has a keen interest in sport and is a competitive athlete. He has run a sub-3 hour marathon and is the Chairman of Police Sport (UK) Athletics, cross country running and athletics sections.