CONCERNS over the shrinking number of serving police officers in Jersey have resurfaced amid fears that the current headcount is “not sustainable” in the face of “increasing policing demand”.
The comments were included within the States police’s latest annual report, which was prepared by the Jersey Police Authority and published on Friday.
Concerns over the dwindling headcount have been acknowledged on several occasions by JPA chair Simon Harman, who has previously spoken about the difficulties of recruiting in the Island and the budgetary pressures facing the force.
The number of officers stood at 213 in 2020, 210 in 2021, 206 in 2023, 201 in 2024 and 195 as of last year (1.9 per 1,000 population).
This is lower than some comparable jurisdictions, including England, Wales, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, where the ratio is over 2.1 per 1,000 population.
The report describes the number of officers as “not sustainable with the increasing policing demand, particularly for violence against women and girls”.
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat has said that new legislation intended to help tackle violence against women and girls – approved by the States Assembly in March – is expected to generate “about 275–300 new crimes” a year by the second year of implementation.
The report states that: “In preparation for the introduction of new legislation, States of Jersey Police will continue to use College of Policing modelling tools to establish the optimum officer numbers required to appropriately manage the demand.
“Resource estimates were submitted for transparency to the States Assembly.”
Responding to questions from the JEP, Mr Harman said the States police “has been working constructively with government officials to understand the additional officers, staff and specialist capability that may be required ahead of the next budget cycle”.
“These discussions have been positive and focused on ensuring the Island is properly prepared,” Mr Harman continued.
“Specialist functions, including the Digital Forensic Unit, are critical to investigating serious and complex offences and supporting victims through the justice process.
“The Authority welcomes the collaborative approach to date and looks forward to identifying further resources through the appropriate governance and funding processes to ensure public protection and maintain confidence.”
