MINISTERS have agreed that a controversial recording of senior government officials can be played in open court following attempts to prevent its public showing during an explosive whistleblowing tribunal.
The Council of Ministers also acknowledged that lessons must be learned from the handling of the case, pledging stronger political oversight, a review of data privacy arrangements and the use of “respectful and appropriate language” by officials.
The statement follows an employment tribunal brought by former safeguarding partnership lead Alison Renouf, who claims she was sacked for whistleblowing about child safeguarding concerns.
The States Employment Board maintains that the social worker was dismissed for gross misconduct following a data breach involving a recording of a meeting of senior government officials in January 2025.
The recording, seen by the JEP, featured police chief Robin Smith describing the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry as a “noose round the Island’s neck”, while former government chief executive Andrew McLaughlin accused organisations of “dining out on what happened a decade ago”.
The government previously sought to prevent the video recording from being played in public, but its application was rejected by tribunal chair Dr Elena Moran.
Proceedings were subsequently adjourned while the States Employment Board sought permission to challenge that decision.
Ministers have agreed that the video of an internal meeting can be shown in Court, subject to seeking appropriate privacy and personal data safeguards
council of ministers
However, in a statement issued today, the Council of Ministers confirmed that it had agreed the recording could be shown publicly, subject to “appropriate privacy and personal data safeguards”.
Ministers said they had met yesterday to discuss the case and accepted that “lessons must be learned in relation to internal government processes and the handling of such cases”.
“Work on whistleblowing legislation is ongoing, and arrangements have been strengthened since this case came to light,” the statement said.
Ministers promised another statement outlining additional action once the tribunal concludes.
Full story in tomorrow’s JEP…
