Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands

BBC Weather

Mild on Wednesday night, with variable, often large, amounts of cloud. It should remain mostly dry. Winds will be light.

Minimum temperature: 7 to 10C (45 to 50F).

Thursday will be mild again. Winds will be light and it should be mostly dry. Still rather cloudy at times but some bright or sunny spells should develop.

Maximum temperature: 8 to 11C (46 to 52F).

Jersey:

Guernsey:

BBC Radio Jersey

The number of times Jersey emergency services were called to deal with people with mental health issues have more than quadrupled in four years.

Figures from a Freedom of Information request show that, in 2014, police or ambulance crews were sent out 97 times to cases involving mentally ill people. Last year, that rose to 412.

In 2014, officers spent a total of 287 hours on such call-outs. It increased to 1,507 in 2018.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey could debate a new system of voting if one group gets its way.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) is working on electoral reforms, after a group of independent observers watched last May's general election and made suggestions for change.

Chair of the PPC, Deputy Russell Labey, says the island's existing first-past-the-post system could be scrapped for some votes.

He also thinks having constituencies with several seats will encourage more islanders to stand for election.

Image source, States of Jersey

Any changes will have to be approved by the States.

Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands on 20 March 2019

BBC Radio Guernsey

An amendment has been placed to relax the law for Alderney and Sark residents who wish to move to Guernsey.

The proposal seeks to enable those living in Alderney and Sark to go to Guernsey for education and training at any age too.

The plans have been submitted by Deputy Dawn Tindall and backed by Alderney's representative, Alex Snowden.

The proposals - placed by Home Affairs - are due to be debated by the States next week.

Jersey Evening Post

There are more than 2,400 semi-automatic weapons in the 'sland but Jersey has no plans to alter its gun laws, external in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack, the home affairs minister has said.

BBC Radio Jersey

The president of the Jersey branch of a teachers' union believes there's still room for negotiation with the States over pay.

The vice chairman of the States Employment Board, Constable Richard Buchanan, went down to talk to protesters in Liberation Square on Tuesday.

They were taking part in a strike that caused seven States secondary schools to close.

Brendan Carolan, of the National Education Union, said members were still open to discussions.

"We are always willing to get round the table, and they have not - in the last week or two - made any contact to suggest they wish to do that," he said.

The States has said there is no more money to give workers a better pay rise, with Constable Buchanan adding teachers could not expect to get more than workers elsewhere.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

The tyres of a white van have been damaged in St Peter Port, police have said.

It happened between 19:00 on Sunday 17 March and 08:00 on Monday 18 March.

The van was parked on the Rougeval estate, officers added.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Guernsey Police on 725 111.

BBC Radio Jersey

A second Jersey care organisation is stopping its children's short break services due to a lack of staff.

New Horizons gives social care and respite services for children and adults, as well as holidays for people with learning and physical disabilities.

The organisation said it had taken the difficult decision to cut the services because it did not have enough staff and had struggled to find a permanent base.

It comes after charity Les Amis announced it would stop its community outreach and short breaks services. The learning disability charity also cited not being able to find enough qualified care workers.

New Horizons' children's services will stop from the end of May, but adult services would continue as normal, it said.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The appointment of Guernsey's former head of law enforcement to a new government position managing properties has been called into question.

Deputy Victoria Oliver has submitted a series of written questions to the States over the appointment of Patrick Rice as head of States of Guernsey Real Estate.

In November 2018, it was announced Mr Rice would be stepping down as Guernsey's most senior police officer and taking on the new position in the new year, until 2021.

Chartered surveyor Deputy Oliver has now called into question Mr Rice's suitability for the role and the advertising process.

She said she believed someone with more experience in property would be more suited to the role, created to get the best value from States-owned property.

In its response to her questions, the States Trading Supervisory Board said that, because of the level of property experience already in the department, the core requirement for the job was leadership and change-management skills.

BBC Weather

A grey and misty start to Wednesday but it should become brighter later.

Dry throughout the day, and mild too.

Highs of 11C (51F).

Jersey:

Guernsey: