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The President of Home Affairs has reiterated his commitment to a review of the way police complaints are handled in Guernsey.
Facing questions in the States this morning, Deputy Rob Prow was asked about the process which has recently been changed.
Among those with queries was Deputy Lindsey de Sausmarez who asked about the appointment of an ombudsperson, which she said is "a system that is commonly used in other places very effectively".
Deputy Rob Prow said it was an "interesting concept".
Pictured: Deputy Lindsey de Sausmarez.
Today's discussion came just three months after Home Affairs introduced a new police complaints regulation '6A'.
That rule allows an initial scoping process to take place to review information already held that relates to a complaint, and, if there is reason to conclude the conduct in the complaint "did not take place, the complaint is repetitious, an abuse of procedures, or is frivolous or vexatious", it can be dismissed.
If that conclusion is drawn, the complaint must then be referred to the Police Complaints Commission for their approval. Deputies were concerned this whole process took place behind closed doors without any dialogue with the person making the complaint. Home Affairs has this week agreed that the PCC will have to write to a complainant to explain what has happened and what their decision is.
There is also an ongoing wider review of the whole process, which Deputy Prow today said will allow options like the appointment of an ombudsperson to be considered.
"My answer (to Deputy de Sausmarez) is that the review hasn't started per se around the terms of reference, but the committee is very, very open, to any suggestions how the police complaints process can be improved and improve for the users would be very, very welcome and and so every consideration, including her very interesting suggestion will be a subject of that review.
"And my message is to any of the public who listened to this, (is that) the (Home Affairs) committee is absolutely committed to conduct a review, and it will consult."
Pictured: Deputy John Dyke.
The Home Affairs committee, and Guernsey Police, have faced near constant scrutiny and criticism over the way police complaints are handled over the past year.
Deputy John Dyke used this morning's States meeting session to ask how many complaints have been received over the last year, and how many of those have been subject to financial settlements.
Deputy Prow was unable to respond at the time.
He instead committed to giving Deputy Dyke a written response, which will be publicly available.
Pictured top: (inset) Deputy Rob Prow.
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