Home Affairs is demanding up to £4m extra for police officers, firefighters, prison staff and other services, warning that public safety could be “at risk” if it doesn’t get the money.
The committee’s President, Deputy Marc Leadbeater, has lodged three amendments to the proposed 2027 Budget, asking for between £2.28m and £3.94m more.
The money would pay for more emergency service and prison staff, support financial crime investigations and help tackle problems at the Population Management Office.
It’s also asking for just over £400,000 to keep the Sexual Assault Referral Centre running.
Deputy Leadbeater said that there was a “real risk to the public” if the committee didn’t get its money.
“The core purpose of Home Affairs is to keep the community safe,” he added.
Home Affairs insists the money is needed to maintain existing services rather than expand them, despite seeking funding for additional frontline officers.
More police, firefighters and prison officers
Home Affairs’ biggest request is between £792,000 and £1.95m, which includes a budget for up to 21 police officers, firefighters, and prison staff – with up to £1.45m of that going to the police.
The Joint Emergency Services Control Centre would also receive £145,000 to maintain existing services and reduce reliance on overtime.
Home Affairs says increasingly complex investigations and growing demand are stretching services, with mental health crises and missing person reports now accounting for around 31% of police response officers’ time.
It argues that relying on overtime and asking existing officers to do more is irresponsible and not cost-effective.
Sexual assault centre needs £400k
Home Affairs is also asking for between about £700,000 and £1m to protect “vulnerable” islanders.
This includes £401,000 to continue funding Guernsey’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which was established as a pilot but has no further funding allocated to it yet.
The amendment would also support domestic abuse victims, specialist offender rehabilitation programmes and the Family Proceedings Advisory Service, Home Affairs said.
Financial crime and population management
The committee is also asking for between £790,000 and about £990,000 to tackle financial crime problems and sort out problems at the Population Management Office.
Almost half a million pounds would go towards stabilising the struggling Population Management Office, while funding is also being sought for four financial crime investigators and an additional Financial Intelligence Unit officer.
If it gets the top amount it’s asking for, nearly £40,000 would also go towards cyber security and emergency planning.
Home Affairs argues the funding is essential to protect Guernsey’s international reputation and economic security.
‘Real risk to public’
Deputy Leadbeater said the committee had carefully considered the financial pressures facing the States, but believed both budget options could threaten public safety.
He said: “We are not oblivious to the current state of public finances, nor the financial pressure facing the States, and so we have not taken the decision to submit these amendments lightly. All of these services are critical to the Bailiwick.”
The amendments effectively ask deputies to approve millions in additional spending or accept what Home Affairs says could be increased risks to public safety.
However, while Home Affairs has warned of serious consequences if its requests are rejected, it has not explained how much the risk to islanders would increase or identified which frontline services would actually have to be cut.
The amendments will be considered during the States’ 2027 Budget debate, beginning on 3 November.
