Draft Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-

STATES OF JERSEY

DRAFT POLICE (COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCT) (JERSEY) COMMENCEMENT ACT 202-

Lodged au Greffe on 13th October 2025 by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Earliest date for debate: 25th November 2025

STATES GREFFE

2025  P.84/2025

Draft Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-  Report

REPORT

Introduction  

Subject to approval, this Commencement Act will bring into force the Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Law 2022 ("the Law") which was approved by the Assembly on 30th March 2022.

Background

The Law provides the framework from which detailed rules for managing complaints can be developed. It provides some commonality with other legislation in the British Isles to assist with interoperability if some kind of reciprocal exchange of resources and services (more commonly known as "mutual aid"), is required.

Rationale for new legislation

The objective is to ensure consistent complaint handling standards across the States and Honorary police forces.

The focus is on resolving matters early, reasonably, and proportionately, with an emphasis on learning and development. Any decisions in relation to disciplinary proceedings will apply these standards reasonably, transparently, objectively, proportionately and fairly. The disciplinary procedures align with best practices in other employment fields, recognising the special status of police officers.

Financial and staffing implications

The new arrangements for the management of complaints and conduct are not materially more demanding than the current system, so there are no finance and staffing implications.

Data protection implications

A threshold assessment was completed which did not indicate a high risk to rights and freedoms in relation to personal data in the draft legislation.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.

Draft Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-  Explanatory Note

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Act brings the Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Law 2022 (the "Law") into force on 5 December 2025.

The Law repeals and replaces the Police (Complaints and Discipline) (Jersey) Law 1999 (the "1999 Law"). The Jersey Police Complaints Authority established under that Law is replaced by the Jersey Police Complaints Commission.

The Law refreshes and replaces provisions of the 1999 Law dealing with –

• complaints about the conduct of police officers or people designated to undertake certain functions of police officers;

• the disciplining of police officers for misconduct.

The Law also repeals the Police (Complaints and Discipline Procedure) (Jersey) Order 2000 and the Police (Honorary Police Complaints and Discipline Procedure) (Jersey) Regulations 2000 and makes various consequential and miscellaneous amendments to the States of Jersey Police Force Law 2012.

The  following  Regulations  made  under  the  Law,  if  passed,  will  also  come  into  force  on 5 December 2025 –

• the Police (Complaints and Conduct – Honorary Police) (Jersey) Regulations 202-;

• the Police (Complaints and Conduct – States of Jersey Police Force) Regulations 202-;

• the Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-.

Draft Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-  Article 1

DRAFT POLICE (COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCT) (JERSEY) COMMENCEMENT ACT 202-

Made  [date to be inserted] Coming into force  [date to be inserted]

THE STATES make this Act under Article 24 of the Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Law 2022 –

1  Commencement of the Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Law 2022

The Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Law 2022 comes into force on 5 December 2025.

2  Citation

This Act may be cited as the Police (Complaints and Conduct) (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-.