Islanders, police, and the Chief Minister have spent the week since King Charles and Queen Camilla departed Jersey hailing their brief visit as a “huge success” – despite the turbulent weather raining on the parade.
Spirits, as we have heard repeatedly over the past few days, were not dampened.
Their Majesties even took the time to thank islanders for their warm welcome and praised those who worked hard to make sure the day ran smoothly.
One of those people, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Beechey, took Express behind the scenes of Operation Turf – the code name for the group which was assembled to manage the once-in-a-generation visit from the monarch to Jersey’s shores.
Canine units, building sweeps, and plain clothes officers were just some of the components that made up the intricately-plotted operation which unfolded last Monday.
The operation begins
Pictured: Detective Chief Inspector Chris Beechey walked Express through the operation.
While the visit was only announced to islanders last month, planning from a police perspective began “in earnest” around ten weeks ago, Det Insp Beechey said.
And Express understands that Government House’s discussions with the Palace began months – and even years – before that.
“We were, of course, aware of the intended visit, however, it was around ten weeks ago that we formed our operational group under the name Operation Turf,” he said.
Det Insp Beechey took on the role of ‘gold commander’, meaning he had overall control of the operation.
He explained: “That group was made up of a number of different functions. With any visit like this, you have a general policing requirement on ground, ops, marshalls, the Bailiff’s Office and the event planner’s office.
“It’s not our event, it’s an island event, but police support it, and we support it from a security perspective on the basis that we have the primary responsibility of keeping the King, the Queen and the public safe.
“There are a number of different areas that we would focus on for our planning operation.”
Boots on the ground
Pictured: All hands were on deck for the operation. (Jon Guegan)
Det Insp Beechey said the “ballpark figure” for the number of uniformed officers deployed on the ground was 70 – just over a third of the entire force.
An additional 20 firearms officers, which were deployed in different functions, brought that total to 90.
But when accounting for officers working in surveillance, intelligence, and on the convoy, the total neared the 200 officers currently employed by the States police.
“Effectively the whole force was engaged in one way or another,” he said.
“There were some on annual leave, but we did put an annual leave embargo on around six months’ ago, at the start of the year.
“We told them that there would be an event taking place in July, and leave would only be granted if it was absolutely necessary.”
Travelling from A to B
Pictured: Managing the convoy was a key phase of the operation. (Jon Guegan)
“The event itself was divided into a number of different phases,” he added.
The Royals’ journey from the Airport to St Helier was, of course, a key phase – with lots of, literally, moving parts and islanders lining the roadsides, keen to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen.
The Royal Household brought over their own vehicle for Their Majesties, but the large part of the convoy and organisation was determined and arranged by the police, with States-owned vehicles.
Det Insp Beechey continued: “We also worked closely with one of our primary policing partners, the honorary police, to manage the route in the build-up to the visit and on the day.
“We couldn’t have done the convoy in the way that we did it without the honorary police, who hold and clear all junctions from point A to point B, which enables the convoy to move without stopping.”
Interestingly, the fixed-wing aircraft which brought the King and Queen – the “principles” to the island – was constantly guarded by a number of officers for two full days and overnight to make sure there was “no interference” with it.
Surveillance and intelligence
Pictured: All environments that the King and Queen entered had to be swept beforehand. (Jon Guegan)
Monitoring the aircraft was not the only surveillance that went on throughout the visit.
“We had a search contingent to the operation as well,” Det Insp Beechey said.
“These officers went into any building that the principles enter or any environment they operate in.
“Islanders might have noticed that there were a number of bins sealed or removed in the areas around town.
“The searching began on the previous Wednesday to the visit, as the expo event was beginning to be developed.
“We had to search the environment as it was built, to make sure that’s a safe environment. We had to search the Government House grounds, the Pomme D’Or area.
“We had to hold Government House and grounds as a secure environment for the whole of Monday and Tuesday, until Their Majesties leave to go back to UK, because if there was any time they needed to come back there during their visit to the Channel Islands, then it would be available.
“We were also supported by Channel Islands Air Search, who provided one of two drones that were used on the day, and gave us direct feed into our control room.”
He added: “From an intelligence perspective, we had people working in the background identify persons of interest who may decide to disrupt the visit.
“We work on trying to identify those people in advance, providing information to officers on the ground so that should they attempt to disrupt it, we are on the front foot.
“We use a number of methods, such as historic information, interactions with individuals on past occasions, word of mouth.
“Other surveillance functions were plain clothes officers in the crowd, from both the UK and Jersey, which furthers creates that bubble around Their Majesties.”
Det Insp Beechey explained the the police also had to be prepared in case of any protests.
He explained: “We had the resources to deal with anyone who might handcuff themselves to a railing or glue themselves to a building, which is all standard practice for the level of security that’s required.
“This was a significant visit, and the King and Queen attract that level of support.”
Even more boots on the ground
Many of the police officers with specialist surveillance and intelligence skills were on loan from the UK, Det Insp Beechey explained.
The National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) provides support to forces which need to temporarily boost its numbers for a significant event – such as a Royal Visit.
“We had a need for firearms officers, specialist dogs, and other extra officers to assist with some of the elements, such as the search effort,” he said.
The Royal household, Det Insp Beechey explained, also brought a small cohort of personal protection officers for the King and Queen, who worked with the States police’s own close protection officers, to strengthen that “bubble around the principles”.
Last-minute changes
Pictured: The rain held off for a visit to the Expo at Weighbridge Place. (Jon Guegan)
The wet weather could have thrown a spanner in the works of a tightly-constructed operation – but Det Insp Beechey said the decision had been taken to move ahead with the dry weather programme, and the only change was the move of the tea party into the Pomme D’Or rather than in Liberation Square.
He explained: “We worked closely with event organisers all the way up to the event, and while wet weather plans developed, determined to stick to original plans as best we can.
“Any changes were discussed with police.”
“We look forward to the next challenge”
At the weekend, Chief of Police Robin Smith took to social media to thank his officers.
He wrote: “A week to remember… memories and stories to last a lifetime and a feel-good ‘buzz’ to match following Their Majesty’s visit. Thank you to all the @JerseyPolice.”
A week to remember…memories and stories to last a lifetime and a feel-good ‘buzz’ to match following Their Majesty’s visit @RoyalFamily. Thank you to all the @JerseyPolice. pic.twitter.com/wg8urFnzkD
— Robin Smith (@ChiefJersey) July 20, 2024
Det Insp Beechey, sharing the Chief’s opinion, said the operation was a “huge success”.
“We kept the King and Queen safe, and the community safe, which was the primary aim of Operation Turf,” he said.
“And the vast majority of people had a really good time, despite the weather.
“There are always things that we learn from in relation to event and we’re now at the part of the process where we ask our officers and staff and partners how we could improve a future event experience and we look forward to the next challenge.”