Monday 23 August 2021
The Guernsey Police Complaints Commission (PCC) have released their annual report for 2019 and 2020.
The Commission reported that it was impressed with the way Bailiwick Law Enforcement had tackled the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, and was looking forward to working with Guernsey Police and the new Committee for Home Affairs elected in the 2020 election on the its ongoing best practice review.
The Commission did however report that it was disappointed there had been little progress made on securing legislative changes that it had been waiting on for a number of years, although it acknowledged there had been pressures from Brexit and an upcoming UK policing review.
Guernsey's Police Complaints Commission was established in 2011, and provides independent oversight of the investigation of complaints made against the police. The Commission's aim is to increase public confidence and trust in the police.
While the Commission does not carry out investigations itself, it has oversight of the entire process and has access to the complaints register which is used to record the way the complaints are handled.
In 2019, the Commission was notified of two complaints, and supervised the investigation of both. It registered seven appeals, none of which were upheld. In 2020, it was also notified of two complaints, and registered four appeals, none of which were upheld.
Robert Jordan, Chairman of the Police Complaints Commission, said:
"It is with pleasure that I present my first annual report, though I do this also on behalf of Mr Stewart Chisholm who was Chairman for the 2019 reporting period. Mr Chisholm retired in early 2020 having served as Chairman from when the Law came into force, in July 2011. The Commission looks forward to working with the new Committee for Home Affairs and the Guernsey Police in 2021 to ensure that we have a robust system in place locally to provide public confidence in the police complaints process. We all agree that changes are necessary to make the complaints process fit for purpose and to re-assure members of the community that complaints about the conduct of police officers are dealt with fairly, confidentially and efficiently."
Deputy Rob Prow, President of the Committee forHome Affairs, said:
"The PCC is one of the pillars of public trust in Guernsey Police; providing independent oversight of the organisation's complaints process. While the Police Complaints Law's ongoing best practice review is not a GWP priority, the Committee recognises its importance, and the work will continue as part of Business as Usual Work. On behalf of the Committee I wanted to thank all of those involved in the Commission for their hard work. The varying expertise which they bring to the table is always crucial to the work they do in supervising investigations."
The report can be read here: Guernsey Police Complaints Commission - 2019 & 2020 Annual Report
