JERSEY would be “naive” to think it isn’t affected by organised crime, according to the Jersey Police Authority – which has unveiled the force’s latest action plan.
JPA chair Simon Harman said that, while the Island was fortunate that it did not often see “very high-level crime”, it could learn from the “experiences” of other jurisdictions – such as the Isle of Man.
Among the objectives outlined as part of its “strategic vision”, the new four-year Policing Plan prepared by the JPA states that the force will “identify and tackle Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) that are intent on inflicting harm on our community and those involved in money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities”.
Mr Harman said: “We would be naive to think that Jersey isn’t affected by organised crime.”
He said Jersey was a “generally wealthy island” that was “reasonably densely populated”, adding: “Things that, if they’re not already here, will be coming here.”
He said that the force could look to other jurisdictions to see how similar issues were being dealt with.
“We tend to look at small-island forces, so Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, and see how they’re dealing with things and if we can learn lessons.”
He cited Liverpool as another example, adding: “It’s a huge area, lots of people, lots of things happening there in terms of intelligence being shared when that sort of thing comes in.
“The very high-level crime, the very organised crime, fortunately doesn’t come here very often. When it does, if there’s something that can be looked at from another area – why not learn from their experiences?”
He added that part of the rationale for producing the Policing Plan was to look at areas “the police may have to confront”.
“Everybody wants Jersey to be a nice place to live – which it is.”
