Twins sentenced for "disgraceful conduct" towards police

Friday 08 December 2023

Twins who made hundreds of abusive phone calls to the emergency services control room – in what the Police Chief described as the most "disgraceful conduct" he'd seen in his 30-year career – were sentenced today.

The police needed to create a 79-page log to help document their investigation into more than 500 "appalling" and "disgraceful" calls made by Erin Robyn Bisson and Richard Anthony Bisson from 2022 to the start of this year.

The 48-year-olds both pleaded guilty to several offences relating to breaches of the island's telecommunications laws and were sentenced in the Royal Court today.

The calls included swearing and abusive language, and Richard Bisson phoning the honorary police and making fun of an officer's disability.

A statement released by the police said the pair also regularly engaged with officers on the street, "often being vexatious and offensive".

Richard Bisson was jailed for one year, while Erin Bisson received 180 hours of community service and a one-year probation order. 

Both were given a restraining order preventing them from contacting the police unless they are reporting a genuine emergency or crime.

Pictured: Throughout my 30-year career I have not seen such disgraceful conduct directed towards police staff and police officers," said Police Chief Robin Smith.

Police Chief Robin Smith said: “I rarely attend the Royal Court for a sentencing hearing, but I made an exception for this case. Throughout my 30-year career I have not seen such disgraceful conduct directed towards police staff and police officers.

“These two individuals wasted a significant amount of police time with their appalling behaviour, the calls were persistent and intentionally provoking. They distracted emergency service control centre staff when they could have been answering serious emergency calls from islanders."

He added: "During what has been a particularly demanding time for the States of Jersey Police, we have been unnecessarily distracted by this utterly selfish and offensive nonsense. All of our staff are dedicated public servants, who joined the job to keep our community safe.

“This is the first case of its kind to be brought to court by the States of Jersey Police and I must express my thanks to the Law Officer’s Department for their assistance and support.”