Jersey police and ambulance services 'stretched to the bone'

Police and ambulance services are "stretched to the bone" with cuts to policing ahead, Jersey's justice and home affairs minister has said.

Deputy Gregory Guida told the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel (CEHA) more than £800,000 in cuts to the police force would put officers under more pressure.

The panel raised concern over the effect of planned savings.

Its chair said the government must "strike the right balance".

The panel heard £836,000 in efficiencies for the police force would not lead to fewer frontline officers.

However, it would lead to an increase in their responsibilities, which could impact the support they can provide for the public.

Unless the States Assembly agrees to change ministers' plan, Jersey Police will get a budget next year of £25.2m.

That's 6% lower than the £26.8m the force was allocated this year.

The vast majority of the annual budget goes on staff wages.

And while the government insists no frontline roles will be cut, it concedes it is choosing instead not to fill a number of support staff vacancies, in the hope of saving money.

The States of Jersey Police Association has already expressed "grave concerns" about the proposed budget cuts.

Even the Home Affairs Minister said he was "a little bit worried".

But Chief of Police Robin Smith said he was adamant the safety of islanders would not be affected.

How the cuts will impact on staff morale is less clear.

The hearing also highlighted problems in the prison service, with continued staff shortages meaning prisoners were being confined to their cells one evening a week for the next few months.

It was raised there was no clear plan for how the prison service would manage to save more than £300,000 from its budget, which is expected to happen in January.

Deputy Rob Ward, chairman of the CEHA panel, said: "We recognise that all government departments are being asked to find efficiencies in their budget.

"However, we remain concerned about the knock-on effect on staff morale, and on service delivery.

"With some prisoners likely to be confined to their cells one night a week for the foreseeable future, and States of Jersey Police Officers taking on responsibilities from support staff, the government must strike the right balance between efficiencies and a robust service."

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