Police justify video published on Facebook

Tuesday 02 May 2023

Guernsey Police has sought to clarify why it published body worn camera footage on Facebook, after the video received a mixed response from the public.

On 28 April Bailiwick Law Enforcement published a short clip from an arrest at Vale Castle, where two people - Ross Le Page and Thomas Marr - were arrested for attempting to produce a controlled drug.

The post garnered 140 comments online, with many questioning why Guernsey Police chose to publish the footage and whether it should publish footage from other offences as well.

Guernsey Police said it follows national policing media guidance "which encourages all police services to both promote and support the media in covering high profile convictions. It does this while also considering the size and type of community that we live in".

Pictured: While the post remains the video has been taken down, with Guernsey Police indicating that all such videos will be taken offline after five days.

"Guernsey Police is also looking to build trust among the community," continued a spokesperson, "through demonstrating the breadth of offences that our officers deal with.

"In this instance, the conviction was for a very serious offence which was carried out in public place and could have posed a serious threat to any members of the community in the area at the time.

"When considering publishing media like this in the future, the organisation will be using the same guidelines it always has. If a Royal Court sentence is of a seriousness that it warrants at least a two year custodial sentence, content will be released to the media, and promoted by Guernsey Police."

Guernsey Police also said that it recognises that Guernsey is a small community, and that publication of this kind of footage can be very impactful.

"With this in mind, we do not believe footage should remain published on our social media channels indefinitely and so, broadly speaking, we will remove this type of video content after five days."

The two men who were arrested received lengthy prison sentences for setting up an illicit laboratory and trying to create methamphetamine.

Pictured: "Our aim is to ensure the Bailiwick remains safe and secure, and for justice to be done it must also be seen to be done," said Guernsey Police.