CHILD safety remains “our highest priority”, the Chief Minister and Home Affairs Minister have said, as they criticised controversial language used during a meeting discussing safeguarding concerns.
In a joint statement, Senators Lyndon Farnham and Helen Miles backed police chief Robin Smith saying that they have “full trust and confidence in his leadership of Jersey’s police force”.
Mr Smith described the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry as a “noose around the Island’s neck”. He acknowledged that he had chosen his words poorly in an apology to abuse victims.
Details of the meeting were submitted as evidence in the employment tribunal of former safeguarding partnership lead Alison Renouf. Ms Renouf claims that she was sacked for whistleblowing after sending a recording of the video to outside agencies.
Senators Farnham and Miles said: “Following media reporting of an ongoing employment tribunal, we want to be clear that safeguarding children and vulnerable people is, and will always remain, our highest priority. We remain firmly committed to learning from the lessons of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry and to ensuring that those lessons continue to inform our approach to public service and accountability.
“We do not endorse the language used during an internal meeting, and note that the chief of police has acknowledged that his words could have been better chosen. We continue to have full trust and confidence in his leadership of Jersey’s police force.”
The government launched an ill-fated legal bid to prevent the video of the meeting being made public, which was submitted as evidence in Ms Renouf’s tribunal. Advocate Christopher Austin’s argument was rejected by tribunal chair Dr Elena Moran, however, the government intends to challenge her ruling at the Royal Court, which has prompted Ms Renouf’s tribunal to be adjourned until next week.
The Chief and Home Affairs Ministers continued: “We strongly support a culture of openness, transparency and constructive challenge. All Islanders must feel able to raise concerns and speak up when they believe issues require attention.
“Robust whistleblowing arrangements are an essential safeguard and form an important part of our wider framework of governance, accountability and professional standards.
“Given that proceedings remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the individual case or on the evidence being considered by the tribunal.”
