Police attendance at Royal Court, 8 December 2023

​Request 742397207

Under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, I request the following information relating to court proceedings on 8 December 2023:

1. The number of States of Jersey Police officers present in the Royal Court on that date.

2. The authority, guidance, or justification permitting Police Chief Robin Smith to attend these proceedings.

3. Any internal policy or protocol regarding the attendance of senior police officers at court hearings, particularly where they may have prior involvement or interest in the case.

Response

Please find the answer to your request below.

1. Royal Court hearings, including both criminal and civil matters, are generally open to the public unless the court orders otherwise for reasons such as privacy, security, or legal sensitivity. The States of Jersey Police do not maintain a register of officers who attend public hearings voluntarily. Therefore, we do not hold information on the number of officers present at the Royal Court on 8th December 2023 and Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

2. Attendance at public court hearings does not require formal authorisation. Senior officers, including the Chief of Police, may attend proceedings at their discretion, particularly where there is operational relevance or public interest. 

3. The States of Jersey Police do not hold a formal internal policy or protocol specifically governing the attendance of senior officers at court hearings. Attendance is guided by operational judgment and professional responsibilities, particularly in cases of significant public interest or organisational relevance.

Article 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.