Investigation into complaints against Jersey Police "nearing conclusion"

Wednesday 31 May 2017

An investigation into the Jersey Police prompted by a man who said he suffered "harassment" after being arrested and having his house searched, before the case against him was later dropped, will be published soon.

The independent inquiry was launched by the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs in April last year, following complaints made by Roy Boschat, a former tow-truck operator.

The issue began with allegations, apparently from his competitors, that Mr Boschat offered favours to officers in return for work, which were never substantiated, but which led to his arrest and a subsequent search of his house in 2006.

During the following weeks, the then Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper sent a letter to the Island’s parish Constables to warn them about Mr Boschat’s alleged offences, which did not lead to any convictions, and all allegations were subsequently dropped. 

In 2015, Mr Boschat argued in the Royal Court that he had been “subject to harassment” and that the whole debacle had lost him reputation and business in the sum of £600,000.

But the case was struck out by the judge due to being “out of time."

However, in his conclusions, the Master of the Royal Court described the handling of Mr Boschat's requests for information from the Police, “…wholly unacceptable, if not deplorable.”

Several months later, the Police Service of Northern Ireland was commissioned to investigate.

Speaking at the time, Assistant Home Affairs Minister Connétable Deidre Mezbourian said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland have been commissioned as an independent authority to conduct this investigation and we have every confidence that they will do so with high standards of professionalism and objectivity.”

Now, over a year since it was launched, the Northern Irish Police told Express that the investigation – expected to cost in the region of £31,000 – is drawing to a close.

Chief Superintendent Paula Hilman, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: “This investigation was launched in April 2016 and, as indicated at the time, no further comment will be made on the details until it has been completed.”