BBC Radio Jersey

The number of arrests in Jersey for carrying illegal weapons has halved over the past four years.

Figures from the Home Affairs department show that in 2014 21 people were stopped by police for carrying weapons ranging from knives and machetes to baseball bats, in 2018 that figure had dropped to ten.

Knives were the most common weapon to be caught with, although two arrests were made in 2018 for carrying wooden poles as illegal weapons.

BBC Weather

Any lingering daytime showers should soon die out and it will be dry tonight. There will be some clear periods at first, although will become cloudier later in the night.

Minimum: 11°C

Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

Jersey's Minister for Social Security has "temporarily" withdrawn proposed changes to introduce "family friendly" employment rights.

Deputy Martin said the withdrawal was due an "issue" around changes to maternity leave within the legislation and hopes to reintroduce them later in 2019.

The law proposed to remove the concept of ‘compulsory maternity leave’, which is an unconditional right for mothers only, and to replace it with equal rights to leave for all new parents.

This change could potentially affect pregnant women who fail to give their employer notice of the intent to take maternity to take leave.

Following the withdrawal, Deputy Martin intends to rework the legislation to ensure mothers cannot be required to work in the weeks following childbirth.

BBC Radio Jersey

A campaigner says work on Jersey's disability strategy has stalled in 2019 because the civil servant responsible for the project was not replaced after going on maternity leave.

The plan is aimed at ensuring islanders with a disability enjoy a good quality of life, through having greater rights, opportunities and access.

Jim Hopley from Jersey Cheshire Home has urged ministers to deliver on the promises that had been made to islanders.

The Social Security Minister has recently been given responsibility for finishing the project, a move which Mr Hopley hopes can lead to lasting change.

Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

The installation of a new hyperbaric chamber at Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital is expected to be completed by the end of July, following "unavoidable" delays.

A hyperbaric chamber is a medical device for treating decompression sickness, a critical medical condition caused by scuba diving accidents.

A spokesman for the Heath and Social Care committee said that the chamber and its container were too heavy to be lifted into position safely.

A new "bespoke" housing has been designed to accommodate the chamber outside the hospital's emergency department.

On top of the delays the project is expected to come in at £68,000 over the original quoted budget of £340,000 from five years ago.

The difference is explained by growing manufacturing costs of the chamber, the cost of the new housing and changes to exchange rates between the pound and euro since 2014, according to the spokesman.

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BBC Radio Guernsey

Image source, GSPCA

Guernsey's animal charity, the GSPCA, says it's dealing with a high number of hedgehogs needing help.

The charity recently released eight back into the wild but still has 127 hedgehogs in its care.

Guernsey's hedgehogs can find themselves in need of care for a number of reasons.

Many of them have been injured by strimmers and hedgecutters, while others have conditions or diseases that need treatment.

Of the eight recently released, one had been separated from its mother, while the others either had injuries, mange or were extremely thin.

The charity is currently hand-rearing 14 baby hoglets and says all of its intensive care units are full, meaning the animals are often having to double up.

It's appealing for help to fund new units so it can cope with the demand.

Image source, GSPCA

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Jersey Met has issued a yellow weather warning for wind.

Image source, Jersey Met

Miranda Griffin
BBC Radio Guernsey

Refurbishment works will begin on the two cafes at Guernsey Airport at the start of next week ahead of a new, full re-brand.

Works are expected to last about six weeks.

The upstairs and airside cafes will be rebranded as Bailiwick Bar and Kitchen - which Guernsey Airport says will offer value for money and quality.

The commercial manager of ports, Doug Wright admits the renovation may cause some inconvenience for travellers but the project has been planned to minimise disruption and should be completed before the summer holidays.

Temporary catering outlets selling food, tea, coffee and other cold drinks will be available to customers but no alcohol will be served whilst the temporary measures are in place.

The airport added passengers will see a "considerable enhancement" in the food and beverage offer when the refurbishment is complete.

BBC Radio Jersey

There could be a public holiday in Jersey to mark VE Day next May.

The Council of Ministers is proposing to make Friday 8 May 2020 a holiday, to recognise the significance of the 75th anniversary of not only Liberation Day, but also VE Day.

As it stands, workers would lose out on the usual 9 May bank holiday because Liberation Day falls on a Saturday.

Malcolm Ferey of Citizens Advice Jersey has also started a petition for a bank holiday on 11 May 2020 and says it's important islanders get a public holiday to celebrate and remember the historic events.

• May bank holiday 2020 changed for VE Day anniversary

BBC Weather

There will be some sunny spells and it will be warmer than recent days.

There will be a few scattered showers around during the day, but they are not expected to be heavy.

Highs of 17C (62F).

Jersey:

Guernsey:

BBC Radio Guernsey

Victor Hugo's former home will feature on Guernsey Post's latest set of stamps.

Hauteville House in St Peter Port has recently undergone an extensive restoration project, and three of the stamps will show the renovated building.

The poet, novelist and politician bought Hauteville House in 1856 after being exiled from France for opposing Napoleon III in 1851.

He spent 14 years in Guernsey, where he wrote some of his famous masterpieces, including Les Miserables.

Image source, PARIS MUSÉES / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE GODET

The House itself will feature as the 80p stamp.

The renovations to the Red Room on the first floor which is decorated with red satin walls and an intricately designed ceiling will feature on the £1.59 stamp.

And the Look-out on the third floor, with panoramic views of the sea, will feature as the 98p stamp.

The stamps will be available to pre-order from 1 July.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Passengers are being reassured there are no safety issues at Guernsey Airport following shortages in ground staff.

The airport has received complaints about delays resulting from shortages in security staff and baggage handlers.

Colin Le Ray, General Manager of Ports, says a second baggage handler will be in place from this weekend.