Thursday 11 July 2019
The Committee for Home Affairs has made good progress in implementing recommendations and addressing areas of improvement, in response to both the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services' (HMICFRS) Review of Bailiwick Law Enforcement carried out last year, and the recent Governance Review by Professor Catherine Staite.
An important first step has been the introduction of a Protocol to formalise and give greater clarity in the relationship between the Committee for Home Affairs and the Head of Law Enforcement. While the Committee and the Head of Law Enforcement have worked together to draft the Protocol, it is recognised that it is one that will see the Protocol evolve over time.
The Committee is also developing a structured plan for implementing the recommendations from the Governance Review. The staff who work within the Committee's various service areas will be a part of that process and the Members are committed to ensuring this is undertaken in a positive, collegiate way to set the tone of this important work going forward.
Deputy Mary Lowe, President, Committee for Home Affairs, said:
"While it is well-known that the Committee members do not recognise many of the claims made in the recent review by Professor Staite, we know that, as with any organisation, there is always room for improvement. For this reason, and in the spirit of good governance, we recognise the merits of the recommendations and are working to progress them as quickly as possible. This work will support the steps already being taken to implement the recommendations made by HMICFRS."
As has been previously stated, the Committee for Home Affairs has invited HMICFRS inspectors to return to the Bailiwick later this year to carry out an update review and assess the progress being made.
It is important to note that, while this is important work, it does not distract from the day-to-day delivery of law enforcement services which continue to be provided at the high standard Islanders have come to expect.
The Committee for Home Affairs intends to update the States of Deliberation on these matters at the next sitting on the 17 July.
