In his traditional Christmas Eve address to the Magistrate’s Court, he expressed his disappointment in the lack of new legislation to give the Youth Court and the Royal Court power to place children aged 12 and over in Greenfields secure youth remand unit as a sentencing option.
‘One of the great benefits of this, which is often overlooked, is that the courts will also be able to sentence 15- and some 16-year-olds to Greenfields thus removing them from the Young Offenders’ Institution ‘at La Moye’ where they currently mix with 20- and 21-year-olds,’ he said. ‘In the case of girls, who currently serve any youth custody sentence in the women’s prison, the benefits will be even greater.’
As the JEP has reported recently, Mr Le Marquand believes the crime rate in Jersey is mostly down to drunkenness.
‘The figures for serious crime continue at a high level and there continues to be an increased pattern of cases involving serious violence on the streets or in other public places,’ he said. ‘Most of this comes directly from drunkenness on or around licensed premises. Our society continues to be far too tolerant of drunkenness on its streets.’
