Mike Bowron will 'soften image' of Jersey police

Mr Bowron wants to soften the image of the Jersey force

The Jersey Chief of Police has said that he wants to soften the image of police in the island.

Mike Bowron said that police officers wearing all black gave modern policing "a paramilitary look".

He said he would be swapping black shirts for white ones in the summer to make officers look less intimidating.

Mr Bowron told BBC News: "I want to soften the image and have smiley, confident, professional cops on the streets and make people feel good."

Mike Bowron, who took up his post in January, has introduced a number of changes to the way the police work in Jersey.

He said that having police officers on patrol on their own had helped them become a more visible presence.

Mr Bowron said he wanted people going to work or shopping in St Helier to feel reassured by seeing officers on the beat.