Senior Guernsey Deputy Gavin St Pier has resigned from the island’s top States committee after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
It is the second time that the former chief minister and his wife have been arrested in five months and it relates to the same police investigation, although the charges are new.
It centres on complaints made against them in relation to the couple’s support of islanders who allege poor practice in the island’s health service.
Last year, he escaped sanction by the States Assembly after sharing details of their cause with a Guardian journalist.
Allegation of misconduct in public office
In a statement, Deputy St Pier said that he denied all allegations but would resign and stand again for his vacant seat on the Policy and Resources Committee.
He said in a statement: “As the police have already advised the media, yesterday afternoon, I was interviewed by them in relation to an allegation of misconduct in public office and an allegation of an offence under the Reform Law. I was released without charge.
“I categorically deny all allegations which have emerged from the complaint that’s already in the public domain. Given the ongoing police investigation, I cannot comment further.
“I have this morning called the President of the Policy & Resources Committee, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez and advised her that I will be writing to the Presiding Officer to resign from the Committee.
“I intend to seek a fresh mandate from the States of Deliberation in the election for the vacancy created by my resignation. Given my role, seniority and the nature of the allegations, it is entirely appropriate that my colleagues in the Assembly are given the opportunity to determine whether they wish me to serve as a member of P&R.”
In its own statement, the P&R Committee said: “Following Deputy St Pier’s arrest yesterday on suspicion of offences related to the Police’s original investigation, the other four members of Policy & Resources met and agreed that it would be appropriate for Deputy St. Pier to offer his resignation from the Committee.
“In a subsequent conversation with Deputy de Sausmarez, Deputy St. Pier communicated that he had arrived independently at the same conclusion.”
“Enquiries into all matters are ongoing”
Deputy de Sausmarez said: “We, the other members of the Policy & Resources Committee, met to discuss the situation and – while being clear that this confers no commentary on Deputy St. Pier’s guilt – agreed that the most appropriate course of action would be for Deputy St Pier to offer his resignation. I did not have to ask him to do so, however, as he told me of his decision in a conversation this morning.”
In its states, the States of Guernsey police said: “On Friday 1 May, Guernsey Police arrested a 59-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman on suspicion of misconduct in public office and an offence under the 1948 Reform Law.
“These two individuals were first arrested on suspicion of harassment in December 2025. These new arrests directly relate to the same investigation.
“Enquiries into all matters are ongoing and Guernsey Police will not be commenting any further at this stage.”
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