Legal fees to defend officers 'should be revealed'

A panel found the need to show prudent use of public funds was a key factor

An independent panel has ruled the cost of a legal case defending a number of Guernsey Police officers should be released.

The Committee for Home Affairs said it was "very disappointed in the decision" and said the information should not be released when it was asked as part of a freedom of information (FOI) request.

The FOI Appeals Panel found there was an overriding public interest and the details of what the police spent on legal fees defending local officers should be released.

It said: "The panel consider that the prudent use of public funds, particularly where the amounts involved may be significant engages the overriding of the exemption."

Deputy Rob Prow, President of the Committee for Home Affairs said: "We’re very disappointed in the decision, which seems rather nonsensical given the appeals panel acknowledged we’d applied an exemption correctly.

"We’re currently taking advice and considering our options, noting also that the appeal panel’s ruling isn’t binding."