Robin Smith said he and his force have been granted powers no chief ‘would want to have’ but said the force would use them to protect the public. New police powers include the ability to detain people for flouting ‘stay at home’ orders and those guilty can face fines up to £1,000.
And Mr Smith, who joined the force in January, said while the police might, at times, not be able to respond as readily over the coming weeks as normal, he stressed that plans were in place to keep disruption to a minimum – including working with the honorary police.
‘You can be confident the policemen and women, and those that support us, will always do their very best for Islanders,’ he said. ‘I am enormously proud of the way they have instinctively responded to this crisis and the messages of support from the public. Together with the public we are a formidable team that will see us through.
‘So, we will do our duty. We will use our powers carefully for those who persistently refuse to abide by the rules, and in doing so risk the lives of others. And while so much has changed, you will see us patrolling our streets, and neighbourhoods, responding to calls, protecting the vulnerable and fighting crime. To ensure that we can continue to do so we politely ask that you contact us only when you really need us.’
Earlier this week the force urged the public not to call them if they see people flouting social-distancing advice.
Mr Smith added that government has had to make some ‘wicked decisions’ as it confronted the pandemic but said the ‘level of partnership co-operation and speed of delivery transcends anything I have experienced throughout my police service’.
Addressing how officers would enforce their new powers, he said: ‘Officers will apply their discretion and will ask questions to establish individual circumstances.’
