Major changes on the cards for justice system

Wednesday 11 December 2019

A soon-to-be-completed review of Guernsey's justice system will recommend "major transformation", according to the President of Home Affairs.

Independent UK consultancy service Do-it-Justice, led by Gemma Buckland, has been reviewing the island's justice framework from top to bottom over the course of the 2019.

That review, which was marked down as a policy priority by a 2018 States resolution, has seen the firm consult with Law Enforcement, the Probation Service, Guernsey Prison, the Courts and a number of other third-party organisations, in addition to a public survey. 

Home Affairs President Mary Lowe, whose committee has seen the "comprehensive, near-final report" prepared by Ms Buckland, said the review proposes "major transformation" of how justice is served in the Bailiwick. 

"It contains multiple recommendations and observations and it signals the opportunity for major transformation in the area of Justice, if the States accept the recommendations," she told the States. "The committee and the reviewer are in agreement that the consultation and engagement process is not yet concluded.

Pictured: Gemma Buckland has been in the island this year leading the review. 

Deputy Lowe continued: "The next step is for the final draft to be circulated this week to the key stakeholders and contributors to the report for them to check, on a confidential basis, for factual accuracy.

"The report considers justice as a whole and touches on many committees' mandates and cross-committee initiatives."

For that reason, the committee has decided to publish the final report as a green paper to be debated by the States in February 2020.

"The committee's view is that with something so far-reaching as this report which offers a blueprint for the future of Justice needs to be aired fully before the committee seeks to make recommendations returning to the States next year for debate and approval of a States Justice policy."

Pictured top: Deputy Mary Lowe and Guernsey Prison.