Giving evidence to a Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel yesterday, Senator Kinnard argued that her department was right to throw out suggestions that the role of Centeniers be abolished.
She described the honorary police as the ‘jewel in the crown of the justice system’ and said that adopting the recommendations of UK academic Andrew Rutherford would be ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’.
‘It was felt that it would impact adversely upon the honorary system,’ she said.
‘If we removed those powers we would be in danger of losing a system which we felt it was important to preserve.
We have a different system with a long history and tradition and you can’t just replace it just because it happens in the UK.’ Under questioning from panel chairman Deputy Bob Hill, Senator Kinnard said she supported more training for Centeniers before they go into court – but said that her department would not be willing to pay for it.
Senator Kinnard argued that the judiciary was not under her remit and that either the Attorney General, William Bailhache, or the Constables should pay for their training.
This brought criticism from both panel member Deputy Deidre Mezbourian and Deputy Hill who said the fact that Home Affairs could make decisions about the make-up of the courts when they were not in fact responsible for them was a ‘conundrum’.
