ALMOST a quarter-of-a-million pounds could be taken from the Health Department’s budget and given to the States police following stark warnings that the force is being pushed beyond safe limits.
The Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel has lodged an amendment to the government’s proposed Budget which would see £240,000 redirected to tackle “significant cost pressures” facing the States police.
If approved, £47,000 of this funding would restore the Digital Forensics Unit budget, while £193,000 would fund three officers for the Community Policing Team.
It comes after Jersey Police Authority chair Simon Harman warned that “current Budget plans will lead to a reduction in the resourcing” for the force at a time when the “complexity, breadth and intensity of policing demand in Jersey continue to grow”.
Mr Harman said the current financial envelope was “insufficient” and that public safety depends on “a well-resourced, responsive and modern police service”.
In the amendment, the panel said it is “concerned” that the Community Policing Team – once envisaged as 16 officers supporting parishes and schools — is set to reduce to just six officers next year amid plans to reallocate three staff members to meet other pressures.
The amendment also highlights that the Digital Forensics Unit — which handles mobile phones, laptops and other electronic evidence — has already had its budget reduced, despite police chief Robin Smith telling the panel that the unit is not sufficiently funded and is under “enormous pressure”.
Mr Smith said that digital material now features in 92% of all investigations, adding that effective digital forensics is “good for the delivery of swift justice”, often speeding court processes and even securing earlier guilty pleas.
The amendment proposes taking the additional £240,000 from the Health and Care Jersey budget because, according to the panel, community safety is closely tied to health and prevention.
The amendment states: “The panel believes in the importance of the Community Policing Team in promoting early intervention, fostering trust between the police and the public, and addressing the root causes of crime and antisocial behaviour.
“By working closely with schools, youth services, and local communities, the Community Policing Team plays a vital role in preventing harm, supporting vulnerable individuals, and
contributing to the overall wellbeing and resilience of the Island’s population.”
The panel concludes that the police face “significant cost pressures in 2026”, noting that two police staff posts have already been removed, and other savings have been forced through simply to meet the current envelope.
Despite this, the panel emphasises that this proposal does not address “the full staffing cost pressures” faced by the States police, but “has sought to secure additional funding which will support vital areas for the public”.
The amendment will be debated as part of the Budget next month.
