THE honorary police is making a call to arms after it emerged that it was just 57% recruited, with 11 out of 12 parishes below their full complement of volunteer officers.
There are currently 179 Centeniers, Vingteniers and Constable’s Officers out of a fully staffed Islandwide complement of 311.
The 12 parish forces are increasingly supporting each other to carry out its varied functions, which include carrying out speed and vehicle checks, policing events, including weddings, funerals and festivals, visiting licensed premises, and administering the first tier of the justice system through parish hall enquiries.
An article in the Honorary Police Law allows forces to request assistance from others parishes.
As well as consolidate its strength, the centuries-old institution is also calling on volunteers to join its ranks, stressing the skills it can help develop as well as the satisfaction of serving the community.
Grouville Chef de Police, Centenier Drew Livingstone, said: “I think one of the challenges we face, along with other voluntary organisations, is the fact that people lead busy lives and might feel that they don’t have time.
“However, the honorary police does not take up as much time as people seem to think – perhaps seven to 10 hours a month once training is completed – and it can be a valuable experience and, importantly, fun and rewarding.
“The work can be challenging at times but you can get a lot of experience from difficult situations and dealing with conflict. I’ve certainly grown in confidence since joining the Honorary Police.”
Addressing the Royal Court recently at its Visite Royale to the parish, St Ouen Chef de Police, Centenier Robert Hall said: “When I started, I was one of six new recruits and we joined an Honorary team of around 14. Today, there are nine of us.
“We have mounted recruitment initiatives in the parish and alongside colleagues at the Boat Show, with the support of the Honorary Police Association, but to date we have only been able to welcome one new officer in the past two years.
“The reasons for the lack of interest are probably for discussion on other occasions, but since the pandemic there has certainly been a decline in volunteering which we share with other organisations across Jersey.”
