States police officers and staff morale hit rock bottom last year, according to results from a Jersey Police Association survey. Despite some improvements, results of a fresh survey released this year found that 63% of employees would not recommend joining the force to a friend.
Now the force say they are halting their new operating model called Project Horizon – which they claimed helped deliver £1 million of savings – over concerns about its impact on ‘an officer’s home life’ because of ‘significant disruption’ to work patterns. A spokesman said: ‘While much good has come from this project, we no longer have the resources to fulfil some of these ambitious plans.’
According to the States police Annual Report for 2018 the force has 190 officers – less than 1.8 per 1,000 of the population, the lowest proportion of officers per 1,000 people in England, Scotland and Wales. In 2008 there were 245 officers. Budgets have also been slashed by about £2million since 2016 to £22.2million this year.
Meanwhile the number of incidents recorded by the States police has risen for the first time in ‘a number of years, according to the head of the watchdog charged with ensuring the States police works effectively.
A record high number of recorded incidents (18,000), varying from crime to welfare incidents, occurred last year. Data shows a 20% rise in common assaults and 21% in more serious grave and criminal assaults. Recorded domestic assaults are up by more than 32%.
Dr Lane said he does not believe the cut in the number of officers is linked to an increase in recorded crime and incidents. He said: ‘For the first time in a number of years, reported figures for 2018 confirm that recorded incidents, crimes and assaults have risen, as has overall demand for police response.
‘This to some extent was expected; a continued increase in our diverse population has inevitably driven up demand. The police have made considerable effort to encourage victims of sexual and domestic violence to report these crimes and to seek help.
‘Similarly, reports for welfare and assisting people suffering from mental health issues continues to grow.
‘At the same time, however, this trend has occurred against a backdrop of declining police establishment, with warranted officers now standing at just 190 full-time officers. The Authority does not currently believe that these two trends are linked and has been reassured that the new policing model is delivering operational efficiencies, as well as taking comfort that new recruiting has taken place.’
The States police have made a ‘robust bid’ for ten new officers to bolster the Island’s policing ranks. In a scrutiny hearing earlier this year Home Affairs Minister Len Norman said he did not see room for any more reductions in police numbers.
Speaking about Project Horizon, a States police spokesman said in a statement: ‘We had hoped that the new structure and working practices identified by Project Horizon would help to mitigate some of our resource pressures. However, last week we conducted a six-month review and concluded that, whilst much good has come from this project, we no longer have the resources to fulfil some of these ambitious plans.
‘The implementation of Project Horizon has also created significant disruption to officers and whilst we have made significant strides in improving morale issues over the last nine months, the single greatest contributor remains the on-going disruption to working patterns and consequential impact this has on an officer’s home life.
‘As a result, the project has been paused which will allow us to review and reassess which parts remain relevant, realistic and achievable, adjusting our delivery plan and timetable accordingly.’
