THE police are in talks with the government over budget cuts as concerns about potential impacts on frontline services grow.
Police chief Robin Smith has met Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat and Treasury Minister Elaine Millar, and is seeking further discussions to “explain the potential impacts” of operating within the current budget.
He further said the force was “exploring ways to reduce unnecessary demand” as it continues to operate with around 200 police officers – shy of the agreed minimum of 215.
Financial stability and value for money were outlined as top priorities in the States of Jersey Policing Plan for 2024 to 2027 as the government slashed the service’s budget by nearly £840,000 in 2023 compared to 2022.
The service’s estimated budget for 2024 is £27,335,000 – and is not expected to rise significantly in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Speaking to the JEP, Mr Smith said: “I’m very conscious that we need to make savings as an island, and we want to be part of that contribution, but I also want to explain what that impact could be.
“We’re currently engaged with government, ministers and senior civil servants, as indeed other government departments are, to see what we can do with regards not just to police officer numbers, but also how we provide additional services without police staff as well, because we can’t deliver the service we need to give Islanders without the appropriate number of police staff and police officers.”
In 2019, States Members agreed that there should be a minimum of 215 police officers and 125 civilian staff.
Mr Smith said the current number was “around the 200 mark”, adding: “Ministers are inviting us to explain what that is like, and thus far we have had nothing but support from the minister and Police Authority as we look to have further discussions.”
He referred to recent efforts to reduce demand, including a new partnership with mental-health services which saw police involvement in crisis episodes plummet by 33%.
The latest annual police report warned these placed “pressure on police response capacity” as each situation could take several hours to resolve.
Mr Smith reiterated that unless there was a “threat to the public”, such cases should be dealt with by medical professionals, rather than the police.
“That has helped us to make some significant inroads in reducing demand,” he said.
“We are exploring ways to reduce unnecessary demand so that we focus on the things that Islanders and I, the minister and the Police Authority want us to focus on, which is responding to emergencies and catching criminals.”
Deputy police chief Scott Hall warned last month that “value-for-money savings” of £422,000, required by the service in 2024, would be “challenging to meet without impacts on frontline services”.
He said the service “simply could not afford” 215 officers when 91% of its budget went on staff.
He added: “We try to mitigate any risk to the Island and community, but it’s something we have to keep under review. We are attempting to deliver all services we can in the face of those budget constraints.”
Jersey Police Authority [the police watchdog] chair Simon Harman said earlier this year: “Although it is important for police to contribute to efforts to address public financing pressures, it cannot be at the expense of having inadequate numbers of police and support staff to deliver what the people of Jersey deserve and expect.
“The consequences of underfunding can be detrimental to both officers and staff, as well as the communities they protect.”
