Female firearms officer authorisation

​Request 726320842

FOI Request – Female Firearms Officer Authorisation (States of Jersey)

I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011:

1. On what date (or in which year) were female officers in the States of Jersey Police first authorised, permitted, or trained to carry firearms?

2. Was there any official policy change, memorandum, or internal guidance issued at the time this authorisation was granted? If so, please provide a copy or summary.

3. How many female authorised firearms officers (AFOs) are currently active in the States of Jersey Police?

4. If available, please also provide:

The total number of AFOs currently employed

The gender breakdown of all firearms-trained officers

If this request exceeds the time or cost limits under the Law, please prioritise question 1.

Thank you for processing this request. I look forward to your response within the statutory timeframe.

Response

Please see the below replies to the above questions

1. We can confirm that female officers have been permitted to carry firearms under the same conditions as male officers since 1972. They are required to undergo the same application and selection process and must meet the established standards during the initial training course.

2. We can confirm that the States of Jersey Police do not hold the information you have requested regarding official policy change, memorandum, or internal guidance in the States of Jersey Police first authorised, permitted, or trained to carry firearms. Under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, a public authority is only required to provide information it holds at the time of the request. As such, we are unable to provide the information you are seeking.

Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies, and a response is declined.

3. States of Jersey Police can not disclose the number of female authorised firearms officers (AFOs) are currently active in the States of Jersey Police.

Both Articles  27 and 42(a)&(b) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 have been applied, and a response is declined.

4. States of Jersey Police can not disclose the number of the number of AFO’s currently employed. 

Both Articles 27 and 42(a)&(b) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 have been applied, and a response is declined.

We can confirm that the gender allocation of female firearms trained officers is 17%.

Articles applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 27 - National security

(1) Information which does not fall within Article 26A(1) is absolutely exempt information if exemption from the obligation to disclose it under this Law is required to safeguard national security. 

(2) Except as provided by paragraph (3), a certificate signed by the Chief Minister certifying that the exemption is required to safeguard national security is conclusive evidence of that fact.

(3) A person aggrieved by the decision of the Chief Minister to issue a certificate under paragraph (2) may appeal to the Royal Court on the grounds that the Chief Minister did not have reasonable grounds for issuing the certificate.

(4) The decision of the Royal Court on the appeal shall be final.

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

Article 42 is a qualified exemption, there is a requirement to undertake a public interest test. Factors favouring disclosure: It is in the public interest to know how public funds are spent and whether value for that money is being obtained. The public need to be reassured that their local police service has the capability to react sufficiently to any incidents involving firearms or other potentially lethal weapons. Providing specific numbers may provide sufficient deterrent to those wishing to commit crimes with firearms.

Factors against disclosure:  If actual numbers are disclosed, the operational capability of the States of Jersey Police could be compromised. As a result, the safety of the public could be jeopardised by allowing criminals to outnumber police resources or use diversionary tactics to commit crimes using firearms or other potentially lethal weapons. The continued terrorist threat, although not specific to Jersey, must also be considered and disclosure may increase that threat.

On balance, it is believed those factors against disclosure outweigh those for.​​