Police

In Jersey there are two types of police - The States of Jersey Police Force and the Honorary Police Force for each Parish.

The police forces work closely together and carry out a wide range of duties aimed at Public safety, as well as crime prevention and detection.

All police officers (States or Honorary) have the same powers of arrest however it is only the Honorary Police that the power to charge.

The police can speak to you or any other person during the course of their duties. They do not need to suspect you personally of having committed any offence to do this.

The police must treat you fairly, politely and with respect, if you are unhappy with your treatment stay calm and consider making a complaint.

Something to remember police officers are people to!  Being polite at all times will make life a lot easier.

If you don't understand what is going on, the questions you are being asked, whether you must do something or not, or terms they are using, just ask.

If you are accused of an offence, always ask to speak to a lawyer before you make a statement.  The law can be complicated.

General Powers Of The Police

The rules about police behaviour are set down in laws and codes of practice which must be available to anyone at all Police Stations  and Parish Halls.

The Codes Of Practice:

Code A - Stop and Search

Code B - Search of Premises

Code C - Detention, Treatment and Questioning of Prisoners

Code D - Identficiation of Persons

Code E - Tape Recording of Interviews

Code F - Testing for the presence of Class A drugs

POWERS OF ENTRY

Police can enter premises without a warrant (an official document allowing the police to do something) in certain situations.

Examples include:

• deal with a breach of the peace or prevent it
• enforce an arrest warrant
• arrest a person in connection with certain offences
• recapture somone who has escaped from custody
• save life or prevent serious damage to property

Apart from when they are preventing serious injury to life or property, the police must have reasonable grounds for believing that the person they are looking for are on premises.

If the police arrest you, they can enter and search any premises you were in when (or just before) the arrest took place without a warrant.

The police can only search for evidence relating to the offence for which you have been arrested, and they must have reasonable grounds for believing there is evidence there.

The police officer who carries out the search must have reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is evidence on the premises relating to the offence or a similar offence.

Apart from the above situations, the police must have a search warrant before they can enter the premises.

conducting A search

They should enter property at a reasonable hour unless this would frustrate their search.

When the occupier is present, the police must ask for permission to search the property, again unless it would frustrate the search to do this.

When they are carrying out a search police officers must:

• identify themselves (tell you their name and police station) and if they are not in uniform show their warrant card.
• explain why they want to search the property, the rights of the occupier and whether the search is made with a search warrant or not.

If the police have a warrant they can force entry if:

• the occupier will not let them in
• it is impossible to communicate with the occupier
• the occupier is absent
• the premises are unoccupied
• they have reasonable grounds for believing that if they do not force entry it would hinder the search, or someone would be placed in danger.

Police should only seize goods if they have reasonable grounds for beleiving that:

• they have been obtained illegally
• they are evidence in relation to an offence
• it is necessary to seize the goods to prevent them being lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

crimestoppers

Crimestoppers is a means of anonymously communicating information to the Police that could help solve a crime.

By calling their number you will be asked your name or details, and so you will not get involved.

Tel: 0800 555 111

email: info@crimestoppers.org

Information can also be passed on relating to drug smuggling directly to Customs investigations.

Tel: Freeephone 0800 735 5555