Policy drawn up for States Members charged with violent or sexual offence

Wednesday, 11 February 2026 10:07

Suggested guidelines have been drawn up for if a Jersey States Member is charged with a serious violent or sexual offence, after questions on how to regulate members' conduct.

A suggested 'Exclusion Policy' has been drawn up for if an elected politician is charged with a serious, violent or sexual offence.

Currently, they are not automatically suspended should any charges brought against them.

The committee responsible for monitoring members' conduct, Policy and Procedures, has drawn up suggested guidelines and will ask parliament for agreement.

The Bailiff would be informed of the charges, and the member temporarily excluded from the States building and its offices, and would not have any funded off-island travel.

They will be able to join meetings remotely and continue their constituency work and drop-in sessions, but will be advised not to meet privately with members of the public.

The exclusion will be in force until either the charges are dropped, the member is acquitted, or they are convicted and sentenced.

If convicted, the member would become disqualified from office and election.

Earlier this year, Guernsey politician Jonathan Le Tocq was sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment for sexual offences.

READ: Disgraced Guernsey politician and pastor jailed for 9 years

In July 2025, he was charged with making more than 2,000 indecent images, more than 200 of which were in the most serious 'Category A'.

Until his resignation in December, he was still on the Guernsey States' payroll, though he was on remand in prison.

In Jersey, there is no automatic exclusion for politicians charged with any offence.

Deputy Philip Ozouf has been twice suspended from the Assembly - following separate States votes - for conduct not covered by the proposed exclusion policy.

He would have been disqualified from office had he received a prison sentence of three months or more for admitting immigration offences. He is permitted to return to the States Chamber on 24 February.