Select a region
The Government has set a target for 100% of their employees working in emergency services and justice roles to have completed training to identify the signs of domestic abuse by the end of June.
In a written question, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat asked the Minister for Home Affairs to outline what training is provided to all officers within the Justice and Home Affairs department in "identifying coercive behaviour".
Deputy Le Hegarat also asked Deputy Miles to confirm how many officers have completed such training broken down by service, including the three main emergency services as well as Customs and Immigration Service, the Prison Service, and Health and Safety Inspectorate.
Minister for Home Affairs, Deputy Miles confirmed that "identifying coercive behaviour is not a standalone learning subject, but rather an integral part of other learning modules that are offered by Government of Jersey", including in various safeguarding modules.
She said that ‘Safeguarding Adults’ and ‘Safeguarding Children’ are included in the part of the mandatory training package for those who work directly with children or vulnerable adults, but explained that some departments have also added ‘Awareness of Domestic Violence and Abuse’ to their mandatory training packages.
Pictured: Minister for Home Affairs, Deputy Miles.
Breaking the figures down by department, the Minister for Home Affairs confirmed that all Police and Ambulance staff have completed ‘Awareness of Domestic Abuse and Violence’ as well as Safeguarding as part of their initial training and ongoing CPD.
However, in the Fire and Rescue Service, only 56% of Fire Service staff have completed ‘Awareness of Domestic Abuse and Violence’ or Safeguarding Learning.
The figures are similar in the Prison Service and the Customs and Immigration Service, with 60% and 69% of staff respectively having completed ‘Awareness of Domestic Abuse and Violence’ or Safeguarding Learning.
Deputy Miles confirmed that this specific training was not required for the Health and Safety Inspectorate and the Jersey Field Squadron.
Last year, States Members unanimously backed a proposition from the then-Home Affairs Minister Deputy Gregory Guida to tackle "coercive and controlling behaviour" and introduce requirements for offenders to notify the police of changes of address or name, if approved by a court.
The legislative changes saw a specific crime of "domestic abuse" introduced, and allowed for the creation of "domestic abuse protection orders" which can be issued post-conviction to help keep victims safe from their abusers.
The legislation was welcomed at the time by the Police's Head of Crime, Alison Fossey, who said it was "much-needed" and that she hoped it would enable more victims to come forward.
FOCUS: The bid to better protect domestic abuse victims
"Longstanding coercion and control" in relationships set to be outlawed
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.