Types of Firearms and ammunition used by the States of Jersey Police (FOI)

​Request

What Firearms and ammunition types are in use by the States of Jersey Police and how many Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) does the States of Jersey Police have at its disposal?

Response

The information requested above is absolutely exempt under Article 27 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 as withholding the information is necessary to safeguard national security.

The information requested is also exempt under Article 42 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, as disclosure is likely to prejudice the prevention, detection, or investigation of crime in Jersey.

To publish the full range of weaponry and numbers of AFOs, would provide advance information as to the operational capability of the States of Jersey Police in any future tactical firearms situation. This would give an advantage to any threat during the commission of crimes involving firearms or other potentially lethal weapons.

Public interest test

Article 42 (Law Enforcement) is a qualified exemption and requires a public interest test.

Factors favouring disclosure:

It is in the public interest to know how public funds are spent and whether value for that money is being obtained. The public need to be reassured that their local police service has the capability to react sufficiently to any incidents involving firearms or other potentially lethal weapons. Providing specific numbers may provide sufficient deterrent to those wishing to commit crimes with firearms.

Factors against disclosure:

If actual numbers are disclosed, the operational capability of the States of Jersey Police could be compromised. As a result, the safety of the public could be jeopardised by allowing criminals to outnumber police resources or use diversionary tactics to commit crimes using firearms or other potentially lethal weapons. The continued terrorist threat, although not specific to Jersey, must also be considered and disclosure may increase that threat.

On balance, it is considered those factors against disclosure outweigh those in favour and the exemption is maintained.

Articles applied

Article 27 - National Security

(1) Information which does not fall within Article 26A(1) is absolutely exempt information if exemption from the obligation to disclose it under this Law is required to safeguard national security.

Article 42 - Law Enforcement

Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice;

(a) the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, whether in respect of offences committed in Jersey or elsewhere;

(c) the administration of justice, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(d) the assessment or collection of a tax or duty or of an imposition of a similar nature;

(e) the operation of immigration controls, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(f) the maintenance of security and good order in prisons or in other institutions where persons are lawfully detained;

(g) the proper supervision or regulation of financial services; or

(h) the exercise, by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, of any function imposed on it by any enactment.