And Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull, head of Crime Services for the States police, said the force was ‘committed to being the best’ it could be in this important area.
A total of 26 recommendations have been made by officers from the Small Islands Forum, which includes Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Jersey, in a report scrutinising how the States police handles domestic violence cases that involve or affect children.
The force was praised for its ‘commendable’ progress in the field and the report says that despite its numerous recommendations ‘the SOJP are considered to be an exemplar in the environs of child protection and domestic abuse’.
However, one major criticism contained within the report related to an incident in which an eight-year-old boy was used by police officers to translate his mother’s account of how she was subject to domestic violence and had tried to kill herself.
The States police have since been advised to update policies to ensure no victim or anyone under 18 is ever used as an interpreter again and professionals are on hand for any victim and suspect interactions where they might be needed.
Take a look inside the new police headquarters, in a special supplement, in Thursday’s JEP.
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