Domestic Violence

​​Request 839123782

Can you please provide the following-

1) How many trained officers you have in Domestic Violence.

2)How many people have you formally charged since the new domestic violence law?

3)How many people are now on the Claire's law list since the new law?

4)How many Individuals that were charged have actually gone to prison?

5)How many victims do you feel you have let down? And if you think you could have done more.

Response

1. The States of Jersey Police does not hold a specific number of officers dedicated solely to domestic violence. All operational police officers receive domestic abuse training as part of their core and ongoing professional development.

This training is embedded across recruit training, safety training, safeguarding programmes, specialist courses, and continuous professional development.

The States of Jersey Police has a dedicated Public Protection Unit (PPU), which is responsible for investigating serious and complex cases involving domestic abuse

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

2. States of Jersey Police can confirm that 29 people have been charged under the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022. Please note that, depending on the specific circumstances, prosecutors may opt for alternative charges such as common assault or grave and criminal assault, harassment, or offences contrary to the Telecommunications (Jersey) Law 2002. The total number of individuals charged with a domestic related offence will therefore be much higher.

3. States of Jersey Police confirm that since the implementation of the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022 on 21st June 2023 there have been 116 disclosures made under the Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme, also known as Clare's Law.

4. States of Jersey Police can confirm that 10 individuals have been imprisoned for offences under the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022 since it’s implementation on 21st June 2023. Please note that, as with our response to question 3, the number of individuals who received a custodial sentence will be higher.

5. This element of the request is not valid under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

The Law provides a right of access to recorded information held by a public authority. It does not require authorities to provide subjective opinions, interpretations, or to create new information in order to respond.

The question as phrased is subjective and does not relate to recorded information held.

Domestic abuse cases are often complex and require careful consideration of the available evidence. In such matters, legal advice is frequently sought to inform charging decisions and ensure that any action taken is appropriate and proportionate.

The Police are required to act impartially and make decisions, often in consultation with the Law Officers Department, based on the evidence and relevant legal thresholds. While every effort is made to achieve outcomes that support those affected, it is not always possible to reach the outcome that may be preferred or expected.

Article applied

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

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.

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.​