Since so-called Islamic State terrorists killed 130 people in Paris two weeks ago, the number of officers at the Island’s Airport and Harbour have increased.
This week Brussels was locked down for six days – with schools and the metro system closed – as the Belgian capital was put on the highest possible security alert.
However, despite the increased security measures in the Island and the geographical proximity to France, Mark James, who is also the Island’s chief fire officer, told the JEP that the threat posed to Jersey was ‘minimal’.
‘I think it’s extremely unlikely that terrorists would strike in Jersey’, he said. ‘Why would they come to Jersey? If their aim is to get to the UK they would have to go through two levels of checks. If they are coming to Jersey for Jersey, what is here that would attract a terrorist? Generally they go for the high profile cities and high profile targets, so I think there is nothing to suggest in any intelligence or any other way that Jersey would be a target at all.
‘I suppose there is a thought that as security hardens in these areas that will push the terrorists to slightly softer, less defended areas. We’ have seen that in Paris where they have attacked public areas, instead of the iconic areas. When they tried to attack the iconic site, they didn’t get in, because the defences at the Stade de France actually worked. That may again push them to the peripherals of those cities, but Jersey isn’t going to get on the world stage as far as being a target.’
Mr James added: ‘We adopt the UK’s stance for threats and our procedures are the same, but I think in reality the actual terrorist threat to us is lower than the UK and probably the equivalent of small villages and towns in the UK countryside.
‘I think we are probably at that level. Having said that, we are equipped to deal with similar types of incidents if they were to occur.’
