Draft Fire Safety (Tall Residential Buildings) (Jersey) Regulations 202- (P.120/2025) – Children’s Rights Impact Assessment

1)  Name and brief description of the proposed decision

The subject of your CRIA may be a proposed law, policy or proposition and in accordance with the Law is referred to in this template as the decision'

• What is the problem or issue the decision is trying to address?

• Do children experience this problem differently from adults?

The primary purpose of the Fire Safety (Tall Residential Buildings) (Jersey) Regulations is to ensure that several of the key learnings from the Grenfell Tower fire are implemented in tall blocks of flats in Jersey to help increase resident safety in the event of a fire within the building. Presently there is no mandatory requirement for the Grenfell Tower inquiry phase 1 recommendations relating to building fire safety to be implemented within tall residential buildings, creating the potential for increased risk for residents.

Fire risk in tall residential buildings is likely to be experienced by adults and children in a similar way. For example, the lack of a self-closer on a fire door increases the chances of fire spread beyond its flat of origin. This will place both children and adults in neighbouring flats at a similar risk of harm from fire and its associated smoke.

There are several potential differences in how children may experience the problem of increased fire risk in tall residential buildings. Children may be more reliant on adults for support during a fire in a tall residential building and less knowledgeable and experienced in the steps to take in the event of a fire. Babies and toddlers may be unable to evacuate and reliant on their parents to carry them to a place of safety in the event of a fire. Children may be unable to benefit from the improved fire safety instructions required by these regulations if they are unable to read the instructions or they are not passed on by adults.

2)  Which groups of children and young people are likely to be affected?

Groups of children could include early years, primary or secondary education; young adults; children with additional learning needs; disabled children; children living in poverty; children from particular ethnic backgrounds; migrants; refugees; care experienced children and LGBTQ+ children

Children, young people and young adults living in blocks of flats over 11 metres tall will be affected. These blocks are largely in St Helier, with some in St Clement and St Saviour.

3)  What is the likely impact of the proposed decision on children and on their rights?

• Identify any potential positive OR negative impacts and include indirect impacts on children and their rights as described in the UNCRC

• Will different groups of children be affected differently by this decision?

In the same way as for adults, it is anticipated there will be a positive impact on the rights of children and young people living within tall residential buildings and their level of safety in the event of a serious fire.

The key articles include:

The life survival element of Article 6 (life survival and development) and the same home element of Article 27 (Food, clothing, a safe home)

4)  Is a full Children's Rights Impact Assessment required?

If you have identified impacts on children and their rights, a full CRIA should be completed. If no impacts are identified then a Full CRIA is not required, but please explain your rationale and how you reached this conclusion

No.

It is anticipated that these regulations will have a small positive impact on the rights of children in the same way as it will adults. However, these rights improvements will only be experienced in the event of a serious fire in a tall residential building, which to date has been uncommon in Jersey. Given this, it is considered to only have a negligible impact on children's rights and therefore not deemed necessary to complete a full CRIA.