BBC Radio Jersey

Controversial changes to UK fishing laws will not undermine the historic constitutional relationship between the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the UK, according to the UK Environment Minister George Eustice.

The Fisheries Bill, which this week received royal assent, gives Westminster power to legislate for fishing rights in local waters - a move that has prompted anger in the Crown dependencies.

But Mr Eustice insisted the changes did not stray far from previous agreements in place that allowed the UK government to intervene in exceptional circumstances.

However, Jersey ministers have said the island's States could still reject any such attempts.

Senator Ian Gorst said that, in order for them to take effect, they would have to be brought as an Order in Council to be considered by the States.

He said he was confident the States could simply reject them as the territory "remained absolutely legally in control of our waters".

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's Education Department wants to know how easy it has been for people to look after children during the coronavirus epidemic.

It is asking parents and carers to fill in a survey which it will release shortly on the States' Facebook page, external, and said it would be speaking to children as well.

Education leaders said the findings would allow them to design a service that would best-support families.

BBC Radio Jersey

Image source, Getty Images

Jersey's emergency services are concerned that drink-driving could be worse than ever this Christmas - even though there may be fewer parties because of coronavirus restrictions.

They have come together to mark the start of their annual anti-drink-driving campaign, as the number of people being caught drink-driving in Jersey has increased in the last few years.

Police said there had been more than 140 cases since the start of 2020.

Officers said drink-related crashes can be one of "the hardest tasks" they face and have a “devastating impact" on families.

This year, the campaign is using the hashtag #NoneForTheRoad and encouraging people to really think about the consequences about drinking and driving.

The emergency services say anyone who chooses to drink alcohol and then drive their car when there's a chance they could still be over the limit is being "selfish".

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

Lifeline air services between Jersey and the UK will be reintroduced from Monday, 30 November, it has been announced.

The second wave of the Covid pandemic, resulting in the introduction of lockdown measures across the UK, has again negatively impacted the demand for air travel, Jersey's government said.

Image source, Blue Islands

It said it has reactivated the contract for the provision of lifeline air services with Blue Islands, to enable regular and reliable flights to Southampton initially, due to the route being no longer commercially viable for the airline.

Unlike those introduced earlier in the year, the flights will be available to all islanders, not just essential workers and those needing to travel for medical or compassionate reasons, and will run Monday to Friday.

Passengers will be charged £99 per leg.

BBC Radio Jersey

More offenders in Jersey have reported anxiety and emotional problems as reasons for offending during the Covid lockdown, the Probation Service has said.

Officers assess what factors contribute to offending in their court reports.

They showed that, between January and September this year, there was a sharp increase in people reporting emotional problems as a reason for offending, when compared to the same period in 2019.

Other factors that saw an increase included drug misuse and relationship, housing and money problems, staff said.

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

Jersey's States members have agreed to hand the government the power to force people to wear masks in public places - with fines of up to £1,000 for those who don't comply.

The Health Minister Richard Renouf told the States mask use in Jersey has been inconsistent since islanders were first encouraged to wear them earlier this year.

With rising cases, he said ministers feel it is no longer appropriate to continue to rely on a voluntary arrangement.

Some politicians questioned the value of masks for reducing the spread of covid-19, but others described the move as a small sacrifice.

Andrew Segal
BBC News

Jersey's government is offering 40,000 coronavirus tests across commercial sectors as part of its testing strategy.

The tests - PCR swab tests, the standard diagnostic method - uses chemicals to amplify the virus's genetic material so that it can be studied.

In its strategy, the government said such testing was important to make sure Covid cases were identified "so we can break the chain of coronavirus being passed on to other people".

Jersey States members have given ministers the power to pass orders about the limits on the size of groups getting together into law.

The orders will not be able to set a limit lower than 10.

Current guidance is for events held inside to be limited to 10 for informal events and 20 for controlled events and 20 and 40 respectively for those held outside.

During debate some politicians suggested there was an inconsistency that should be addressed in having a limit of 20 applying to church congregations, which also have to wear masks and physically distance, while restaurants could host a number of groups of 10 diners.

Andrew Segal
BBC News

An online tool has been launched for people to record details of the number of trees and hedgerows they have planted.

The government said the tool would help the future planning of new woodland and wildlife corridors, as well as "assist with the island’s response to the climate emergency".

It would also identify the locations for any invasive tree diseases that target particular species, it added.

Details people can include are:

• The amount planted
• The species of plant
• The location

People can access the tool on the Jersey Biodiversity Centre website, external, where they can then directly record their planting details into an online form and on to a map of the island.

Image source, Government of Jersey

BBC Radio Jersey

Limits on the size of groups that can meet up may be relaxed around Christmas, Jersey's health minister has said.

Currently gathering limits for events held inside are set at 10 people for an informal get together and 20 for controlled events organised by a business or organisation.

Deputy Richard Renouf said: "These orders are designed to be flexible. There is a Christmas working group, known as the winter events governing group, to plan what we might do over Christmas. We do want people to enjoy themselves as much as possible over Christmas, but limit the spread.

"That group will report to ministers soon, then we'll have a public discussion about how that might look. It is not necessarily the case these limits will be in place for Christmas, they can be changed, if there is reason to change they will be."

The UK Fisheries Bill, which includes a clause allowing the UK to impose fishing rules on the Crown dependencies, has become law.

The legislation includes a permissive extent clause, which allows the UK to impose new fishing rules on Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man after Brexit - however, constitutionally each island's government has to give its consent to any law.

Each island is a self-governing state, with the power to debate and make its own laws.

Earlier this month Guernsey's External Relations Minister Jonathan Le Tocq said any move to extend the law without consent would be contrary to the island's "important and historic constitutional relationship with the Crown".

BBC Radio Jersey

A residents' group says planning policies in Jersey have failed to protect picturesque parts of the island.

Moz Scott, leader of the St Brelade's Bay Association, said she was asking the States to reconsider the proposed Island Plan and protect the area from future development.

A new plan is due next year.

Ms Scott said the area needed protecting because it was a "treasured seaside resort".

One suggestion has been making the entire bay a national park.

However, Jim Hopley, who runs the island's existing national park - which covers and protects about 2,100 hectares including areas of the bay, said any changes would require "revision of the boundaries".

BBC Radio Jersey

Several States members are questioning government plans to introduce legal limits on gatherings in Jersey.

In a debate, ministers are attempting to get permission to enshrine in law their existing guidance, including rules stating no more than 10 people can meet in a private home, and no more than 20 can attend indoor, organised events, such as faith services.

But a larger number of people would be allowed to visit restaurants and bars - provided no more than 10 sat at each table.

The island's Dean, the Very Reverend Mike Keirle, and a number of States members have suggested the rules are inconsistent.

A vote is expected later, ahead of a debate on granting the government the power to enforce the wearing of masks in public places if it is deemed necessary.

BBC Radio Jersey

Ports of Jersey needs to work better with the States in order to improve the airport, the politician in charge of Jersey's Planning Committee has said.

More than £40m is due to be spent on improvements to the airport and, in July, politicians agreed to review the proposals.

Some States members questioned whether the development should be a priority following the coronavirus pandemic, but port authorities were given approval earlier this month to borrow money to fund improvement projects.

However, Deputy Russell Labey said Ports of Jersey needed to be aware about the island's heritage and listen to other people's expertise.

BBC Radio Jersey

The final stage in the demolition of Jersey's old Fort Regent swimming pool is under way this week - as the politician responsible said ministers are close to making a decision about the site's future.

The pool area is set to be replaced with a green field.

It was originally expected to be knocked down by the end of June, but was delayed because of coronavirus restrictions.

The council of ministers was due to meet on Tuesday to approve plans for the fort but that has now been pushed back.

Assistant minister Deputy Hugh Raymond, with responsibility for the fort, says they're "close" to moving forward and putting forward a proposition.

He said: "Hopefully we can use the fort and it would be a positive move forward, at least with the first decision, and that's going to come in the next two or three weeks."

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's States members will be asked to vote on handing the government the power to make it mandatory to wear a mask in indoor public places to help tackle the Covid pandemic, if it is deemed necessary.

Currently the wearing of masks is strongly encouraged in Jersey, but if measures due to be debated on Tuesday are approved, ministers would be able to introduce stricter rules - and fines of up to £1,000 for people who don't stick to them.

Separately, the government could be given the power to make it a legal requirement for businesses to collect customers' contact details.

A specially arranged States sitting is being held from 09:30. Listen on 1026AM or online.

Andrew Segal
BBC News

Four people at three schools in Jersey have tested for coronavirus, education bosses have said.

The Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills said it had been advised that one student and a staff member at Hautlieu School, one student at Beaulieu School and one student at Victoria College were all found to have Covid-19.

It said the Hautlieu student tested positive on Saturday and all parents were informed by the school by letter on Saturday and all direct contacts were contacted by Sunday.

A member of staff at Hautlieu School tested positive for Covid-19 with "all direct contacts ... asked to go home today [Monday] until the contact tracing process has been completed".

At Beaulieu School, one student has tested positive but they had not been in school since last Wednesday and were isolating at home.

Students who were in direct contact with the student were being sent home until the contact tracing process has been completed, officials said.

Another student in sixth form in Victoria College tested positive for Covid-19 while isolating at home since Wednesday 18 November, they added.

Victoria's sixth form students who had been in isolation and due to return to school on Wednesday could do so providing they had negative test results, officials said.

BBC Radio Jersey

The amount of time health service staff are taking off due to stress - following a spike in absence during the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic - is falling, bosses have said.

New figures show health workers took almost 1,000 more days off work because of stress, anxiety or depression this year compared to the same time in 2019.

The Health Department said it had a system of reviewing peoples mental health, called well-being checks.

It said it has carried out more than 1,800 of them during the early stages of the outbreak and supported many staff who needed help.

The service also said the money it would get from the Bailiff's Covid-19 appeal meant it would be able to help staff through specialist trauma therapy.

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey constable who was elected unopposed in the last election wants voters to have the option of choosing "none of the above" on their ballot paper.

Constable Karen Shenton-Stone, of St Martin, said she would gladly have campaigned for her seat but it was "disheartening" no-one stood against her and not fair on parishoners.

She said she believed being able to reject every candidate gave people more of a democratic voice.