- Constable warns honorary police system could collapse as Islanders don’t want to volunteer
- The role of a Centenier – read more below
- Do you think the honorary police system works? Take part in our poll
- Should parishes be fined for failing to have enough Centeniers? See the results of our recent poll
JERSEY’S ‘unique’ honorary police system could collapse because Islanders are not willing to step up and volunteer their services, a parish Constable has said.
St Saviour Constable Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard has taken the unusual step of writing to the majority of households in the parish calling on them to come forward and sign up to the honorary police force after the Royal Court imposed a £5,000 fine for failing to fill two vacant Centenier roles.
The parish was fined after it repeatedly failed to attract enough Centeniers, putting it in contempt of court.
But despite the direct appeal, which saw 5,000 letters sent out with parish rates bills, only two people have so far come forward.
But according to Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard the problem is not only affecting St Saviour but parishes across the Island.
She warned that Islanders must step up and support the system before it is lost forever.
‘It is unique, but Islanders seem prepared to let it capitulate,’ she said.
‘In this case we are not asking for much, just a bit of people’s time to support their parish.
‘People do not want to give up their time up and get involved and we could lose it.’
St Saviour is required to have six Centeniers, six Vingteniers, and 18 Constable’s Officers.
Currently the parish is looking for two more Centeniers and up to 11 Constable’s Officers – although there has been more interest in the less senior role.
Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard said she believes many prospective Centenier candidates are put off by the thought of having to prosecute in the Magistrate’s Court but she said that full training and support was on offer.
‘We do not just give people the uniform and the tie and tell them to get on with it,’ she said.
‘Those involved in the system at the moment enjoy it and it motivates them.
‘I would urge people who may be interested to just have a word with some of our officers involved.
‘It is not just for the parish’s sake but for everyone’s sake.
‘It has to keep going otherwise taxes will go up horrendously.’
Under the law honorary officers, who are all volunteers, must be recruited from within the respective parish with the exception of St Helier, which can recruit from across the Island.
Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard said she has had interest from a former Centenier who now lives in St Clement but cannot recruit him because of the law.
Asked if financial incentives for honorary officials should be introduced, Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard said: ‘Maybe. We pay officers’ phone bills at the moment – I know that is a drop in the ocean.
‘Perhaps financial incentives are something we will have to look into.
‘But then, maybe it stops it being an honorary system and we might as well all pay more taxes and get the States police in and scrap the honorary system.
‘We have 8,000 people in the parish, surely we should be able to find someone?
‘It is an absolute nightmare.’
On the question of changing the law to allow parishes other than St Helier to recruit from beyond their boundaries, Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard said: ‘If we could change it then I would go along with it.
‘But in all honesty I cannot see too many people from St Saviour saying that I want to volunteer in St Ouen.’
‘In our Parish the Honorary Police have a vital role in providing community policing in the Parish.’
‘It is urgent that we fill two vacancies for Centenier as soon as possible as the Royal Court has already fined the Parish £5000 and the court has made it clear that the Parish has an absolute duty to fill office of Centenier and we cannot avoid the obligation without further penalty.’
‘Failure to do so will result in continuing and increasing fines and we believe that this will be at least £10,000 on the next occasion if we fail to elect a Centenier.’
‘In St Helier the Parish Authority is permitted to draw Centeniers from the whole Island whereas all other Parishes are restricted to those who are resident in the Parish. Unfortunately we are not in that position.’
Each parish in Jersey elects a number of Centeniers, Vingteniers and Constable’s officers who act in the name of each parish’s Constable in maintaining law and order.
Officers are elected for a term of three years by parishioners and take an oath in the Royal Court
Honorary police officers must live in the parish they represent at the time of their first election to the position, except in the case of St Helier where they must be a ratepayer of the parish.
The minimum age to be nominated to join the honorary police is 20 years old and the maximum age is 70.
Honorary police officers are on duty for one week at a time, usually every three or four weeks depending upon the parish roster. They are on call 24 hours a day during that period.
Officers are elected to serve their parish but can assist or operate outside with matters outside the parish in certain circumstances.
Anyone standing for election to the Honorary Police will need to undergo a criminal record check.
