JERSEY POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY
ANNUAL REPORT 2007
In presenting the Annual report for the year 2007 the Authority apologies for the lateness of submission which is due to illness and also enforced moves of our office premises earlier this year.
From the analysis below it will be noted that the number of complaints by members of the public against Police Officers show a marginal increase over the previous year. The type of complaints are similar to the previous year. Three of the complaints concerning the use of C.S Spray were subsequently withdrawn. The heading of ‘Other’ in the analysis covers many different descriptions by complainants including for example instances where the claimant feels that he was wrongfully arrested, or that the Police breached their Code of Practice.
Analysis of Complaints
2006 | Complaint | 2007 |
14 | Excessive use of force | 8 |
6 | Harassment/threatening behaviour | 9 |
- | Use of CS Spray | 4 |
10 | Other | 15 |
30 | | 36 |
The investigation of some complaints take a considerable time to complete and the Authority is very conscious that in the interests of both the complainant and the Police Officers complained of, the sooner the investigation is completed, the better. Unfortunately, at the end of the year there were some twenty investigations still being progressed, although a significant number of those were finished early in 2008.
The table below shows the results of the investigations received in 2007, and it will be noted that of those completed, only two were partly substantiated.
Of the six investigations carried over from the previous year, one was substantiated, two were unsubstantiated, two were incapable of investigation and one was withdrawn but later reinstated and remained incomplete at the end of 2007.
For administrative reasons some complaints necessitated engaging senior personnel from the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary to carry out the investigation.
2006 | Outcome | 2007 |
15 | Withdrawn | 8 |
5 | Vexatious | 1 |
4 | Unsubstantiated | 2 |
- | Partly substantiated | 2 |
- | Other | 3 |
6 | Investigation in progress at year end | 20 |
30 | Total | 36 |
Mr Brian Curtis left the Authority on completion of his term of office on 31 December 2007 and we are grateful for his help and support during the last three years. We are pleased to welcome Advocate Debbie Lang as a new member of the Authority following her appointment on 1st January 2008 for a term of 3 years. We are also pleased that on completion of his first term of 3 years, Mr Tom Slattery was appointed for another term of 3 years from
1 January 2008.
Early in January 2008, the Authority was forced to hurriedly move from its offices in Great Union Road. After several months in a temporary office at Home Affairs Department, the Authority finally re-established itself in its present premises at 5 Library Place, St Helier.
The Authority welcomes its new Secretary – Mrs Elizabeth Moore and congratulates her on managing the very difficult period following the enforced office change.
LM/eam
21st August 2008
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