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Planning ‘corruption’ investigation cost hits £41k

Planning ‘corruption’ investigation cost hits £41k

Tuesday 09 March 2021

Planning ‘corruption’ investigation cost hits £41k

Tuesday 09 March 2021


An independent investigation into alleged ‘corruption’ in Jersey’s Planning Department remains ongoing more than two-and-a-half years after launching, with the overall cost now at £41,000.

Officers from Norfolk Police were 'sworn in' as investigators in September 2018 and tasked with closely reviewing accusations of foul play within the department responsible for approving planning applications and building regulation.

The Norfolk officers were brought in from the UK in order to avoid any potential conflicts of interest through an investigation by a Jersey force.

No prosecutions have been made since the investigation launched, and it has never been made clear which exact laws are alleged to have been broken.

A Police spokesperson told Express that the investigation was in its “later stages” last year.

Then last month, Norfolk Constabulary said that the probe was still “ongoing” and that they were “not in a position to provide any timescales.”

Yesterday, a Government spokesperson commented: “The independent investigation into Jersey's Planning Department in relation to allegations of corruption in 2018, is still ongoing and led by Norfolk Constabulary. 

"The parties involved have been kept up to date throughout the investigation and Norfolk continues to work with the States of Jersey Police. 

"We will update in due course when the investigation is complete."

They also confirmed to Express that the overall cost of the investigation now totalled £41,000 - a rise of around £24,000 since the last update was provided by the Home Affairs Minister, Constable Len Norman, 22 months ago.

Broken down, the £16,837.44 spend between September 2018 and May 2019 was made up of:

  • payroll - £7,351.24;
  • stationery - £11.40;
  • car hire - £738.10;
  • air travel - £3,765.56;
  • other travel - £1,736.58;
  • hotel - £3,234.56 (£2,955.56 spent in Jersey and £279 in the UK).

The Government said that a breakdown of the overall spend to date was not possible.

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