Guernsey police pledge improvements after report

The commission said 46 people made complaints against Guernsey police officers in 2023

Guernsey Police is working to improve professional standards, as the Home Affairs Committee is set to review police complaints law on the island.

The Bailiwick Law Enforcement 2023 annual report has detailed how the force's Professional Standards and Counter Corruption Unit (PSCCU) has made significant progress to improve public confidence in policing by leading internal training programmes.

It comes in the wake of a number of pending legal complaints against the force.

The Police Complaint Commission (PCC) announced last month the way complaints about Guernsey Police were handled should be reviewed to help build public confidence.

Guernsey Police has published its annual report for 2023

The commission said in total 46 people made complaints against Guernsey police officers in 2023.

The report highlighted successes in policing, including increased reporting of number of recorded sexual offences and prosecution of sex offenders.

But it also found strains in policing and what Ruari Hardy, Head of Law Enforcement, said was a "worrying trend in assaults on police" officers - with 68 such incidents recorded in 2023.

Mr Hardy said: “Policing is very much about maintaining public trust and confidence.

"There are times when we may not necessarily get it 100% right. And that is what a learning and development culture is about.

"However, I would like to stress that we have a process for dealing with public complaints and that is an established process and we are working to ensure that the public can have trust in that process."

'Undue criticism'

He added that "very few" complaints made against law enforcement had resulted in any findings of either misconduct or gross misconduct.

Home Affairs Committee President Deputy Rob Prow said he believed police had faced undue criticism in recent years.

He said: "It outlines in detail all the very, very valuable things that the police force do, which keep us safe and secure.

On the issue of public confidence he said: "What I think the the annual report is reflective of is the increase in the amount of training and the considerable effort the police put in to providing a public service and being accountable for it.

He added the Committee of Home affairs intended to carry out a full review into police complaints law following the PCC recommendation.

Home Affairs was also set to select a successor to Mr Hardy, who is due to retire later this year.

The report highlighted successes at the border in 2023

In 2023 the force dealt with an increasing number of Class A drug seizures and interception of the attempted illegal immigration of three Albanians individuals who came into the island on a private vessel.

An investigation also led to the arrest and 12 month imprisonment of a man charged with illegally exporting military grade ballistic shields and body armour to China.

Emma Webb, Head of the Customs and Excise Division of the Guernsey Border Agency said the force had a "robust" approach to protecting the Bailiwick and common travel area.