Skip to main content Skip to accessibility
This website is not compatible with your web browser. You should install a newer browser. If you live in Jersey and need help upgrading call the States of Jersey web team on 440099.
Government of Jerseygov.je

Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

  • Choose the service you want to log in to:

  • gov.je

    Update your notification preferences

  • one.gov.je

    Access government services

  • CAESAR

    Clear goods through customs or claim relief

  • Talentlink

    View or update your States of Jersey job application

Honorary Police powers (FOI)

Honorary Police powers (FOI)

Produced by the Freedom of Information office
Authored by States of Jersey and published on 25 January 2019.
Prepared internally, no external costs.

Request

I would like information as to what powers honorary police officers have and what differences in power they have compared to a regular police officer (based in Jersey).

Response

The relevant powers for States and Honorary police are listed below and can be seen in full via the links at the end of the response.

Honorary officers and States Police officers have, save for 16(3) below, the same powers. The main difference is jurisdiction, which for honorary officers is usually confined to their parish whist States officers is island wide. Honorary officers can and do operate as Police officers outside of their own parish in limited circumstances (see Articles 5 and 5A of the Honorary Police (Jersey) Law 1974).

 

​Honorary Police (Jersey) Law 1974

 

2    Duty of police officer

It shall be the duty of a police officer to the best of his or her power to cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent offences, whether under customary law or statutory law, against the person and property of Her Majesty’s subjects and to take all such lawful measures as may be necessary for the purposes of bringing offenders with all due speed to justice.

3     Power of police officer

(1) Where a police officer with reasonable cause suspects that any person has committed, is committing or is about to commit, an offence the police officer may arrest that person.

(2) Subject to the provisions of any other enactment, there shall be expressly reserved to a Centenier the powers of –

(a) the granting of bail to any person;

(b) the formal charging of any person with an offence, without prejudice to the customary powers of the Attorney General in the prosecution of offences;

(c) conducting and deciding a parish hall inquiry into an allegation that an offence has been committed; and

(d) presenting a person charged with an offence before a court.

(3) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), a police officer shall have all other powers and privileges relating to policing which a Centenier has by virtue of the common law or of any enactment for the time being in force.

(4) Where a Centenier declines to charge any person, the Attorney General may give such directions to such persons as the Attorney General thinks appropriate

​States of Jersey Police Force Law 2012

 

 16     Duties and powers of police officers

(1) A police officer must, to the best of his or her ability –

(a) cause the peace to be kept and preserved;

(b) prevent offences, whether under customary or statutory law, against persons and property; and

(c) take such lawful measures as are appropriate to bring offenders to justice with due speed.

(2) A police officer may arrest a person the police officer has reasonable cause to suspect has committed, is committing or is about to commit, an offence.

(3) A police officer has the powers and privileges relating to policing which a Centenier has under customary law or any enactment except –

(a) the power formally to charge any person with an offence;

(b) the powers to conduct and decide a parish hall inquiry into an allegation that an offence has been committed; and

(c) the power to present a person charged with an offence before a court.

 

 

 

 

 


The laws relating to policing in Jersey are available via the below links:

Honorary Police (Jersey) Law 1974

The States of Jersey Police Force Law 2012

Our sites
Back to top
rating button