Armoured vehicles (FOI)

Request

Has the States of Jersey or any other Jersey Government agency purchased or own any armoured / bullet proof or similar vehicles but not including Prison vehicles for transferring prisoners? If the answer is in the affirmative then please supply details of when purchased, costs of purchase and reasons for purchase.

Response

The States of Jersey has not purchased any such vehicles other than for Policing purposes. No further details will be given as to do so would compromise the operational capability of the police service. This information is therefore qualified exempt under Article 42 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

Exemption applied

Article 42 – Law Enforcement

Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would or would be likely to, prejudice-

(a) the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, whether in respect of offences committed in Jersey or elsewhere.

Public interest test

Revealing the Police’s operational capability in this area may give those intending to use firearms to commit a crime in Jersey an advantage which would be to the detriment of public safety in Jersey.

It is always in the public interest for government and public bodies to be open and transparent about spending public money, however the States oversee all budgetary spending and the police follow all States guidelines on spending so the public can be reassured that any monies spent, would follow the premise that the ‘best value for money’ would be obtained.

In these circumstances, it is believed that the public interest test falls on the side on non-disclosure.