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Bailiwick Law Enforcement have released their annual report for 2017 - the final report of its kind for the current Head of Law Enforcement, Chief Officer Patrick Rice.
The report highlights a "moderate increase" in crime levels, following a long period of continued decline, but also the success Guernsey police and border agency have had in tackling it.
In the report is included a list of eight "service delivery priorities", these are set for three years, and reviewed annually in each report.
They currently stand as follows:
Some of the headline statistics included in the report include how Law Enforcement disrupted or dismantled five serious and organised crime groups throughout 2017, thwarted three illegal immigration attempts, received 10,566 calls through JESCC, 483 devices were examined by the High Tech Crime Unit, and firearms officers were deployed 61 times.
Chief Officer Patrick Rice said: "This document provides an overview of the duties performed by Guernsey Police and the Guernsey Border Agency during the year. Protecting the Bailiwick brings with it a unique set of challenges and throughout 2017, officers and staff met those challenges with relentless determination to deliver quality services to the communities of the Bailiwick.
"Over the last 12 months, as this report will illustrate, we carried out a wide range of work, both locally and further afield. We are proud to have worked together with our partner agencies to ensure that the islands remain a safe and enjoyable place to live and work.
"This is my last Annual Report as Head of Law Enforcement, and provides me with the opportunity to review the journey that we have taken over the last eight years, and the tremendous transformational changes that have been introduced to further enhance the effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement in the islands, including drawing together the Guernsey Police and Guernsey Border Agency under a single management structure."
Police and GBA staffing remained relatively even from 2016 to 2017, with a total of 146 police compared to 144 and 57 GBA staff compared to 47. Staff turnover for the police also remained wholly the same for the police, with 10 resignations compared to nine and two resignations.
Pictured: Firearm statistics in Guernsey.
Statistically, crimes such as common assault, drug offences, burglary, theft, and criminal damage all increased by a fair margin, with the total recorded crimes on Guernsey for 2017 being 1,580 compared to 1,389 previously. Alderney crime rates also increased by around 33%.
On the roads, driving offences also saw a rise, while at the island's border posts, there were 102 more drug seizures than the in 2016, with a total of 174 across all drug types. The value of the drugs seized was significantly lower however, at £611,450 compared to £928,943.
The main increase in the cumulative seizures was down to the dark web, Chief Officer Rice said. In total there were 56 seizures of cannabis resin and 68 of herbal cannabis, compared to 34 and five in 2016.
"We are continuing to undergo a period of cultural and organisational transformation. I have been proud to lead a dedicated workforce who are driven by a deeply embedded set of values and a shared desire to keep the Bailiwick as safe as possible.
"In moving forwards a clear set of priorities within a defined strategic direction is key to ensure that we remain focused on the needs of our Bailiwick communities and deliver what we do best—fighting crime and safeguarding the vulnerable.
"As I prepare to hand over the baton of office, there will be a seamless transition as the team are now well placed to continue to deliver effective law enforcement services as indicated throughout this report.
"It has been an honour to serve."
Pictured top inset: Patrick Rice
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