Deputy Andrew Lewis did breach States Code of Conduct

Thursday 03 August 2017

Jersey's Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) has concluded Deputy Andrew Lewis has breached the States Members' Code of Conduct.

But, they haven't fully explained to him why, or what the consequences are going to be.

Yesterday, the committee held a special public meeting to hear evidence from Deputy Lewis into allegations that he'd lied to both the States and the panel investigating historic child abuse.

It's claimed that during a States debate in 2008 Deputy Lewis - at the time Home Affairs Minister -  said he had read a critical report on the conduct of Operation Rectangle, before suspending the Police Chief, Mr Power. It's claimed he meant the Metropolitan Police report into the affair, which would have been untrue, and misleading to States Members - instead, he had actually only seen a summary of that report written by the Deputy Chief of the States Police David Warcup. Deputy Lewis maintains he meant to say he had read the Warcup summary report, but simply wasn't clear in the words he used.

In a letter sent to all States members, the Chairman of Privileges and Procedures, Constable Len Norman, says the committee has concluded Deputy Lewis breached the States Members' Code of Conduct, and goes on to say: “The Committee intends publishing a full explanation of its reasons for reaching this conclusion, indicating the action it will be recommending to the Assembly. However we realise that Deputy Lewis needed to be advised of its decision at the earliest opportunity, especially given the public interest in this matter and he has been informed of the Committee’s finding earlier today. The Committee will not be issuing any further comment on this matter until its report is published"

Deputy Andrew Lewis has so far been unavailable for comment.