AS GUERNSEY’S Home Department struggles to save face over its appallingly botched handling of the reinstated copper affair, it announced this week that it will publish the reasons behind the outcome of a new, final police disciplinary appeal.

That, of course, is a complete waste of time.

Firstly, because the conclusion is a foregone conclusion: the panel will hold the line that an officer convicted of assault should not be compelled to resign.

The media has already been briefed that ‘compelling reasons’ exist why it would be wrong to sack the PC and that, in any event, his assault on a female pensioner was at the lower end of the scale.

Secondly, because no one will believe what is said. Unless three new panel members review the matter, it will be be a rerun of the previous ‘hearing’, unless Deputies Francis Quin and Jenny Tasker are prepared to say, ‘yes, people of Guernsey, we got it wrong.’

Thirdly, it will be the release of the wrong information.

To regain any credibility in this matter – and since it would be at its own expense it will not happen – the department has to release the outcome of the investigation into this by the Devon and Cornwall police.

That has the independence, distance and standing to be regarded as the definitive version of whether the officer should stay or go – and why.

And since the political appeal panel was convened in the first place, it is clear that Devon and Cornwall said he should go.

If the political members can explain how and why they know better than Guernsey’s chief officer and the investigating officers of the UK force, their statement may have value. But it is also a safe bet that they will not have the courage to face media questions on this issue. Instead, they will hide behind a release.

The other reason why reinstating the police officer is wrong is because the department owes a duty of care to him.

Whenever he approaches a group of Friday night lads, the taunts will be along the lines of ‘here’s the copper who likes to rough up old ladies’, and worse.

The panel has just set up someone who should be an ex-officer for his own good and that of the force.