Governance of the States of Jersey Police

Background

The governance of police services is inherently complex. Police forces are accountable for the delivery of economic, efficient and effective policing services but there is also a widely accepted imperative that they are operationally independent of government.

The States of Jersey Police, headed by the Chief of Police, provides policing services to the Island. Following the coming into force of the States of Jersey Police Force Law 2012, it has been subject to oversight by a Police Authority.

Scope

This review evaluates the effectiveness of the design and operation of the current governance arrangements for the States of Jersey Police.

Conclusions

The report welcomes the establishment of a Police Authority as a valuable enhancement to the governance arrangements for the States of Jersey Police.

The report identified that the balance of powers between the Chief of Police, Police Authority and Minister were out of line with those in other jurisdictions. It also identified that further steps were needed to enhance the operational independence of the Chief of Police, including through strengthening the capacity of the Police Authority to perform its functions.