GUERNSEY needs more police according to Home minister Geoff Mahy. He said the complement of the force, decided by the States in 1998, was no longer sufficient for tackling modern crime.

‘We would like to see more police employed because we are not at our full complement of 177, so there are vacancies.

‘But we are planning to train a good lot of new recruits this autumn and, as chief officer George Le Page said, we are looking at anywhere between 12 and 14 trainees, which will be an asset.’

He added that the force was losing approximately six officers due to retirement each year.

‘The police career is shorter than other jobs as members of the police can retire at 50 and that number does not include anyone who leaves the force before they are 50.

‘So we do need to recruit every year.’

Deputy Mahy added that a biannual intake of recruits might be preferable to just one each autumn.

‘We may have to look at training a new group of cohorts every six months in order to get the number up.’

He added that the recommended 177 might be inappropriate for tackling crime today.

‘The Home Department is looking at, as part of the Government Business Plan, actively to have a review of the force and also to look at seeing where the strengths of Customs and police could work closer together to avoid any duplication of effort.’

Deputy Mahy added that investigations would be made into the feasibility of recruiting civilians to work at the police station.

‘We are concerned about the numbers, but a lot is being done to address the issue.’

Jersey, which has a population of approximately 80,000, has a force of 250 as well as an additional 500 honorary police officers organised by the parishes.

‘There are some advantages and disadvantages to such a system.

‘My personal view is that if we do want to address all areas in the Government Business Plan under priority seven and we want to provide a proactive police force and we do need a few extra police.’