Minister welcomes report on police governance

23 March 2018

The Home Affairs Minister Deputy Kristina Moore has welcomed the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on police governance.

In her report, the Comptroller and Auditor General, Karen McConnell, said that the establishment of a Police Authority four years ago was a welcome step, strengthening the oversight of, and enhancing the operational independence of, the States of Jersey Police. Ms McConnell has now recommended how the role of the Authority might be further strengthened.

Deputy Kristina Moore said: “I am pleased to see that the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report has highlighted the Police Authority as a valuable enhancement to the governance arrangements for the States of Jersey Police, and that this was a step not taken in any other Crown Dependency or Overseas Territory.

“I would like to thank the Comptroller and Auditor General for her work and welcome all the recommendations, which I expect to be implemented by the next government. We have already committed to routine independent inspection as a key mechanism for holding the States of Jersey Police to account and driving improvement. An independent inspection will take place later this year.

“The report highlights the fact that the Minister is currently required by law to make staffing decisions, such as considering appeals from officers on extensions of service. I particularly welcome the recommendation that the law should be changed to reassign human resources responsibilities from the Minister to the Chief of Police and Police Authority.”

The Jersey Police Authority (JPA) have invited Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS, formerly known as HMIC), to carry out an external inspection of the States of Jersey Police this Autumn.

The Chair of the JPA, Jason Lane, said: “The JPA welcomes the publication of this report and looks forward to working with the States of Jersey to implement the recommendations. Inviting HMICFRS to inspect the States of Jersey Police is an important step forward in how we assess the performance of the force. We will work alongside the Police to develop agreed terms of reference for the inspection, and we hope the team from HMICFRS will be able to conduct the inspection this autumn.”

The JPA will release a report of the findings and recommendations once the inspection is completed.