Police gifts, gratuities and hospitality (FOI)

Request

There are many establishments providing States of Jersey Police with free coffees and other discounts in shops and also favourable discounts on bank products?

Is this not against the States of Jersey code of conduct?

Does this not make a conflict and also favour the establishments providing free or discounted facilities?

Response

The States of Jersey Police apply Association of Chief Police Officers guidance for gifts, gratuities and hospitality which provides police officers and police staff with a framework to determine the boundaries of acceptability regarding the receipt of gifts and hospitality.

The States of Jersey Police recognise the responsibility to ensure that all officers and staff understand how the acceptance of gifts, gratuities or hospitality can undermine personal and professional integrity. The guidance outlines that a gratuity may be accepted if it is:

• an offer or discount negotiated through the Police Federation (Association), the Superintendents’ Association or other staff associations or trade unions

• a discount to public service workers including members of the police service offered on the basis that the organisation in question has a large customer base (and the force has given explicit approval for such an offer)

A key principle of the guidance is that police officers and police staff should demonstrate the highest standards of professional behaviour, honesty and integrity. In particular officers and staff should not compromise or abuse their position by soliciting the offer of gifts, gratuities, favours or hospitality in any way connected to, or arising from, their role within the police service, whether on or off duty.

The States of Jersey Police have an internal policy relating to the Acceptance and Offering of Gifts including Hospitality which aims to control the risk of officers and staff being unduly influenced by offers from external individuals.