The resignation of the Independent Policing Panel has left Sark without a mechanism to investigate complaints against law enforcement personnel for several months.
Chief Pleas considered interim measures to cover the gap in October, but nothing was agreed, something the Douzaine Committee later described as leaving the island “in the invidious position of having no means of handling a complaint against any of the Constables or their team”.
A fresh information report was brought before the government earlier this month explaining the issue and seeking to reassure the community that terms and conditions within employment contracts do grant some oversight and control for disciplinary matters.
Conseiller Frank Makepeace, and former Douzaine Chair, said the Committee had since made progress on resolving the issue thanks to conversations with Ruari Hardy, Head of Bailiwick Law Enforcement, which he said had “very positive results”.
Chief Pleas Speaker Paul Armorgie agreed, saying the meeting had “laid foundations for a close working relationship with Bailiwick Law Enforcement”.
Mr Hardy confirmed to Express he had an “informal meeting” in the island to discuss various matters, including the absence of a complaints process for local police.
“It was an opportunity to discuss the complexity of such matters and I was able to explain how we deal with such issues within Guernsey Police. The meeting was very positive for all parties,” he said.
Pictured: The meeting was revealed at April’s Chief Pleas meeting.
The information report was withdrawn by the new Douzaine committee, which was elected after a successful motion of no confidence in Conseiller Makepeace at the same April sitting of Chief Pleas.
It also withdrew other agenda items from the meeting so it could consider them as a group before deciding whether to relay them at the summer government meeting.
Conseiller Makepeace urged colleagues to debate the report, saying any delay “leaves ourselves open to the risk of a complaint”.
“When will this end,” he said.
Conseiller Chris Bateson, freshly elected to the Douzaine, said the matter will be considered again and that Chief Pleas wouldn’t have ordered action by approving the contents of the information report in any case.
An Assistant Constable was elected by Chief Pleas shortly after, increasing the number of Constables in Sark to three.
Guernsey’s Home Committee has pledged to reform the local police complaints system, acknowledging it isn’t fit for purpose, and after calls from the independent handling panel that it should have more involvement.
Guernsey Police have recently introduced a new mechanism for public reporting abuse and corruption of officers, in line with Metropolitan Police measures to sure up public confidence in policing following national scandals.
The States of Guernsey also settled civil claims against several police officers, including the Chief Officer of Police, after spending at least a quarter-of-a-million pounds on legal expenses.