New Law To Modernise Police Complaint Handling

A new law has been approved to modernise the legal framework for dealing with complaints against Jersey Police.

The Home Affairs Minister says it will provide a much more consistent approach and make sure there is equal treatment, common standards, and improved clarity for those making and handling grievances.

Jersey will join other police forces in the British Isles in following 'Standards of Professional Behaviour.'

The law is aimed at making sure officers are held to account if their conduct falls below the required standards.

However, it states that officers who make honest or isolated mistakes in good faith, or with good intent, should be supported and encouraged to learn and improve.

The draft law also allows relevant authorities to share information to oversee complaints, whilst reflecting the importance of people's right to privacy.

To make sure that privacy is protected, an offence of 'knowingly and recklessly' disclosing information will be created - which comes with a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine.

The Jersey Police Authority will be renamed as the Jersey Police Complaints Commission.

It will supervise the investigation of complaints and could review certain decisions made by the Deputy Chief Officer or the Attorney General.

Deputy Gregory Guida says policies and procedures in other police forces across the British Isles have evolved over the last 20 years and it's important for Jersey to be compatible with that.

The UK Home Office introduced new legislation in 2020 to simplify the complaints system and improve the way they're handled.

"A degree of compatibility with policing procedures elsewhere in the British Isles is important, as this enables common standards to be attained and eases interoperability in the event of mutual aid being required.

Similarly, the States of Jersey Police trains and accredits its personnel in accordance with the professional doctrine and national standards set by the British College of Policing. It also offers an established and well-tested source of best practice."

It was approved unanimously by the States Assembly.