A temporary political behaviour watchdog has been appointed following the sudden resignation of the previous incumbent – who quit after the States Assembly rejected her findings against Deputy Gavin St Pier.
Dr Melissa McCullough vacated her position in late November 2025.
Dr McCullough had found that Deputy St Pier had breached the Code of Conduct and recommended a 25-day suspension, but the States voted to reject those findings and the suspension.
That vote fell 11 in favour, 22 against, five ‘Ne Vote Pas’, one did not vote, and one was absent.
In her resignation letter, Dr McCullough said: “A Commissioner cannot uphold standards in a system where standards are not seen to be upheld.”
She argued that the Assembly’s decision to ignore independent recommendations signalled an “unwillingness to enforce consequences”, making her position untenable. She only resigned from the Guernsey element of her role, however, and remains Commissioner for Standards in Jersey – meaning Guernsey will be footing the bill for the replacement alone.
Mr Ozanne OBE is a well-known figure in Guernsey’s legal and regulatory landscape, having recently led La Chambre de Discipline, which handles complaints against Guernsey advocates.
He has previously contributed to Guernsey’s system of government through a non-States member role within the former Home Department.
His wider professional background includes senior roles in regulated practice, dispute resolution, and governance across public, charitable, and third sector bodies.
SACC President Deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel emphasised that the committee chose Mr Ozanne to ensure the role remains “independent and effective” while the underlying rules are being rewritten.
Deputy Hansmann-Rouxel said: “We were encouraged both by the number of responses we received and by the very high calibre of candidates who came forward.
“The Committee was keen to ensure that the duties of the Commissioner for Standards could continue to be carried out independently and effectively during this period of review.”
The President of SACC continued: “Mr Andrew Ozanne brings a great deal of relevant experience in adjudication, complaints handling, and professional discipline, and the Committee was unanimous in its decision to make this interim appointment.”
While Mr Ozanne is in position to handle any new complaints in the short term, SACC says it is conducting a “top-to-bottom” review of the Code of Conduct process, aimed to address the “structural issues” exposed by the St Pier case.
That review will need to look at whether it is appropriate for politicians to have the final vote on a sanction for one of their own colleagues, whether the island should return to a “panel-based” system rather than relying on a single individual’s judgment, and will also have to address the “misinformation” and “misrepresentation” that Dr McCullough claimed influenced the recent debate.