Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands on Thursday 15 November

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Flybe says customers who have booked tickets won't be affected by the company being put up for sale.

The airline has put itself up for sale, just weeks after issuing a profit warning.

Its share price has plummeted following poor performances - and it is expected to make a £22m loss this year.

Image source, Blue Islands

There had been fears that those customers who had already purchased tickets could lose out if flights were cancelled, or routes were abandoned, but Flybe has now confirmed this won't be the case.

The airline's board confirmed it was "in discussions with a number of strategic operators about a potential sale of the company".

It said it was also reviewing other "strategic options", including cutting more flights in the face of challenges.

Alleged victims of sex abuse have to fly to the UK because of a lack of specialist services on the island.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

There's concern for the welfare of a woman who was last seen in Jersey on Wednesday afternoon, police have said.

Natasha Kennedy, 39, was spotted in the town area at about 14:15.

It's believed she is driving a silver Hyundai, officers added.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact the States of Jersey Police on 612 612.

Image source, States of Jersey Police

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Guernsey's Committee for Home Affairs has said it supports calls for a scrutiny hearing after inspectors said the island's police force had the "most fragmented and out of date" IT systems they had ever seen.

A comprehensive review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found many areas of improvement for local law enforcement in a 113-page report, external.

The report included 26 "areas for improvement" and eight formal recommendations, which it suggested be in place by 31 January 2019.

When the report was released earlier this month, the president of the Scrutiny Management Committee, Deputy Chris Green, said the Home Affairs and Policy and Resources committees had "questions to answer".

Deputy Green later confirmed his committee would hold a public scrutiny hearing with the committee on 5 December.

"The hearing will specifically refer to the concerns about ICT and governance that were mentioned in the report," he added.

Deputy Mary Lowe, president of Home Affairs, now says any suggestion that her committee has not operated strategically is "simply not true".

Committee members have "unanimously welcomed the opportunity" to attend the scrutiny hearing, as they "strongly" feel that "clarification" is needed.

Mike Wilkins
BBC Channel Islands News

Guernsey's government is planning for a potential withdrawal of Flybe from routes serving the island, according to a spokeswoman.

Image source, Getty Images

The Committee for Economic Development said it was is in contact with the airline "to understand the implications of their announcement this morning".

Earlier, Flybe's board confirmed the regional carrier was for sale, just weeks after issuing a profit warning.

"The Committee is also considering contingency service options in the event those routes currently operated by Flybe are withdrawn,” the spokeswoman said.

Flybe currently operate flights between the island and Exeter, Southampton, Birmingham, and Jersey, which operates under a franchise agreement with Guernsey carrier, Blue Islands.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Volunteers who can offer their skills and experience to assist the rehabilitation of prisoners are being urged to contact HM Prison La Moye.

The States of Jersey says support from volunteers is "invaluable" to the prison service and helps inmates cope with a variety of everyday situations.

Volunteer duties include teaching literacy and numeracy, home maintenance and personal development programmes for building skills such as motivation and confidence.

La Moye’s Head of Skills and Learning, Dr David Holmes, said: “Volunteers can make a very real difference in helping to support prisoners going through a difficult time in their lives.

"Whatever your interests, experience or skills, we have a role for you, and we will train, mentor and support you in whatever role you choose to do.”

Each application is considered on an individual basis, and volunteers will need to be cleared by the prison’s security team.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Guernsey couples could get married on island beaches, if the States adopts relaxations to the island's 1919 Marriage Law., external

Image source, Getty Images

Under the plans, couples will be able to marry outdoors, in territorial waters and in Bailiwick airspace.

There will also be no restrictions on when ceremonies can be held, with more people able to legally conduct them - including non-religious celebrants such as humanists.

Deputy Jane Stephens, who leads on social policy, said: "Through these proposals we aim to address the issues raised by different groups within the community and at the same time give couples more control, freedom and choice over how the most important day of many people’s lives is conducted."

Politicians could consider the law as early as 12 December.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Former Guernsey politician Wendy Morgan has died, aged 76.

During her career Mrs Morgan served as a States Member in both Alderney and Guernsey.

She was a St Peter Port deputy between 2004 and 2008 and Guernsey's deputy education minister.

Her husband, former Chief Minister Laurie Morgan, died in January this year, aged 87.

Guernsey Environment Minister Barry Brehaut tweeted this tribute:

BBC Radio Jersey

A relaxation of immigration rules will allow 130 non-EU migrants to work on Jersey farms.

The move comes after farmers told Constable Len Norman they were in urgent need of staff.

The two-year trial replicates a new UK pilot scheme, which allows fruit and vegetable growers to recruit non-EU migrants as seasonal workers.

Jersey's Farmers Union has welcomed the move.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

There's concern for a Jersey woman who is being looked for by police.

Officers said they want to "check on the welfare" of Amy Le Masurier and are appealing to any of her friends who know of her current whereabouts.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the States of Jersey Police.

Image source, States of Jersey Police

Twitter

BBC Radio Guernsey

This year's Guernsey Post profits are the "second best the company has seen for more than a decade" - despite a drop of more than £1m.

That's according to the service's chief executive, Boley Smillie.

Guernsey Post has released its annual report and financial statements which shown an operating profit of £1.3m.

Guernsey Post said it'll pay £1.1m as a dividend back to the States, £500,000 of that being a "one-off payment".

Boley Smillie said the figures also show a decline in deliveries...

BBC Radio Guernsey

Householders across Guernsey are being warned not to put rubbish out without a "pay-as-you-throw" sticker from 2019 - or face a £60 fine.

Leaflets detailing waste charges - that will come into effect on 3 February - are being delivered across the island this week.

Trading Assets say they want to give people as much notice as possible of the costs.

The standing charge, which pays for the waste infrastructure - including shipment and recycling - is £85 per household.

The "pay-as-you-throw" stickers will cost £2.50 for a 90-litre black bag and £1.40 for a bin liner size bag holding no more than 50 litres.

If people fail to put a sticker on a bag, they could incur a fine of £60 while a successful fly-tipping prosecution might end with a £20,000 fine and a criminal conviction.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

There's currently a yellow weather warning in place for wind across the islands, Jersey Met has said.

It added winds of force six can be expected.

Image source, Jersey Met

The Parole Board is reviewing whether to free Russell Causley, who has never revealed where his wife's body is.

BBC Weather

Fair with sunny periods, perhaps misty with some cloudier spells this morning. It will become cloudier by this evening, with mist and the risk of fog patches towards morning.

Max: 14C

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey Post has announced its operating profits have dropped by more than £1m.

Inward mail deliveries and local mail deliveries both experienced declines.

The company released its annual report with a thank you to staff - and a warning that this year's operating profit was £1.3m.

Chairman Andrew Duquemin said Guernsey Post would pay £1.1m as a dividend back to the States, £500,000 of that described as 'a one-off payment'.

The total inward mail delivered was down seven per cent on last year, whilst local mail delivered also experienced a decline of 11 per cent in that period.

BBC Radio Jersey

The airline Flybe is to be put up for sale, after a profit warning and a collapse in its share price.

The company, formerly known as Jersey European, is due to issue its interim results today.

Earlier it warned that it could lose up to £22m this year.

Shares have fallen by nearly 75 per cent - and it warned that it would be trying to cut its costs.

The airline has blamed a lack of demand for seats, a weak pound and high fuel costs.

It's understood the board is looking at selling the company or merging with a rival.