Enforcement of traffic light travel system (FOI)

​Request

Traffic Light Travel system - Declaring regions visited prior to entering the island.

Further to the requirement to complete an online form confirming the regions you have visited prior to travelling to Jersey what processes are in place to ensure this is complete accurately. I have heard of an instance where a person who lives in an Amber region and had been in that region (stayed overnight) within 48 hours of coming to Jersey has travelled to Jersey and claimed they came from a green region and did not have to isolate for the required period of time.

What are the Government of Jersey doing to ensure people coming to the Island are being truthful and fully declaring regions visited? Surely this is not just based on the trust of people because the last 12 months have proved people cannot always be trusted? What is to stop people from being untruthful to not have to isolate for the time required regarding Amber and Red Zones.

Response

Information provided on www.gov.je and on the travel pre-registration form is clear that knowingly providing false information to an authorised officer is an offence liable to a £10k fine.

Travelling to Jersey from 28 May 2021 (gov.je)

The majority of people will naturally be truthful, particularly when asked to provide their travel history in writing, and therefore needing to make an active decision to knowingly be untruthful in the submission of this information.

The information is also requested upon arrival, when individuals check in for their arrivals test. This further helps to reduce the risk of an individual knowingly providing false information, as they are less likely to do so when asked questions directly.

If the individual conducting the check-in has concerns regarding the passenger’s travel history, they will refer to the Covid Safe team for monitoring and possible enforcement action.

In addition, individuals who are believed to be non-compliant with isolation can be reported by any member of the public via the following email address: monitoringcovid@gov.je.

The team will then conduct further checks and visits; this has resulted in enforcement actions.

These activities form a risk-based approach. However, without a lie detector or significant intrusive investigations, it is difficult to ascertain information about a passenger’s travel history with absolute confidence.