Friday 16 November 2012
The Home Department has confirmed that it will be seeking to appoint a single Head of Law Enforcement in Guernsey. The new post will provide operational direction to the Guernsey Police and the Guernsey Border Agency, ensuring even more closely aligned work between the two organisations.
The Board has made the decision after consultation with senior officers and management of the Guernsey Police and the Guernsey Border Agency. The interviews for the post take place in December, with the post holder in place from 1 January 2013.
Minister for the Home Department, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, said:
"This decision has been taken because we believe that closer alignment between the Police and the GBA will bring three things: improved front-line service delivery, greater efficiency in the use of resources and increased accountability.
There will still be two distinct law enforcement services. There will still be Police Officers on the streets, and GBA officers at the airport and the harbours. But it will be the job of the post-holder to ensure both organisations are working even closer together in order to bring about the efficiencies required. This might mean shared investigations or shared resources. But those efficiencies will all be aimed at further improving the way our law enforcement agencies work and at delivering an even better service.
Having one person at the head of law enforcement in Guernsey will also increase accountability and put in place a clear line of responsibility. Officers and staff will have a clear line to somebody who has overall responsibility for law and order in Guernsey; and that person will know that they have a clear mandate to bring leadership to both the Police and the GBA and to deliver the best possible services for the public.
I do want to add that a great deal of joint working between the Police and the GBA is already in place and that I have the utmost confidence in the leadership of both Chief Officers. This change is about future proofing and protecting front line services so that Guernsey has the most effective and efficient law enforcement structure it can put in place."
Interviews will take place in December, and further information will be released when an appointment has been made.
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