No 2019 local intake for Guernsey Police

Monday 22 July 2019

Guernsey Police will not be recruiting any new officers from the island this year, it has announced, because of 'budget priorities'.

But just this month the force also announced it was bringing eight transferees over from the UK to work in the island - something it has now said it did to fill in gaps in experience.

Usually, Guernsey Police run local intakes in April and September, but both of those intakes have been cancelled this year. The last local intake started last September, and those officers began service toward the start of 2019.

A Bailiwick Law Enforcement Spokesperson said: "The States of Guernsey will always endeavour to recruit for Guernsey Police locally.

"When an experienced local Police Officer leaves the Constabulary, they take with them an extensive amount of experience and knowledge which is difficult to replace with a new recruit or less experienced Officer. On such occasions, the States of Guernsey may look to recruit externally to bridge the gap in expertise and experience – ensuring that Guernsey Police maintains a significant knowledge base and can continue to deliver the high level of service the public have come to expect.

"Budget priorities mean there will not be a 2019 intake of recruits, and the decision on a 2020 intake will be taken closer to the time."

Eight new officers were brought in to Guernsey earlier this month, six of whom are pictured above. 

In the Bailiwick Law Enforcement's annual report for 2017 - the latest report of its kind - there was a total of 146 officers in the police force, and in the same year, 13 officers left the force. Again, in 2017, they recruited 15 new members of staff. 

Police forces across the UK adopt the same approach as Guernsey's Law Enforcement, in that when they need to fill gaps created by experienced officers, they look to hire officers from other constabularies. The spokesperson explained that this means the transferees arrive fully trained and 'ready to be deployed'.

"Sometimes we specifically recruit for specialist roles, such as firearms officers, other times not. This is not the first time officers have transferred from the UK and it will not be the last – as has been the case for many years."

Guernsey Police sometimes specifically headhunts officers for specialist roles, like firearms officers. 

Bailiwick Law Enforcement did not disclose what salary level the new, transferred officers were on, and therefore how much it costs the tax payer to recruit already-trained officers from the UK. All it said on the matter was: "As with any position, starting salaries may vary depending on experience and any specialist skills.

"The first pay point scale on commencing as a new recruit with Guernsey Police is £30,677.

"The States recruit external officers on a case-by-case basis and where there is an operational requirement to fill certain positions that cannot be filled locally. All recruitment has to be managed within existing budgets."

Pictured top: Guernsey Police station.