Fines of up to £1,000 for no census completion

Saturday 20 March 2021

On the eve of Census Day, islanders are being reminded that they could face fines of up to £1,000 for failing to complete their form or providing false information.

Jersey’s Census 2021 questionnaire should be completed tomorrow (Sunday 21 March).

As this year marks 200 years since the start of the official census in Jersey, Fort Regent will be lit in purple to mark the moment, along with other major landmarks across England and Wales.

The census is run by Statistics Jersey and takes place every 10 years. It helps plan public services such as school places, healthcare, and transport, and is widely used by businesses, charities, and islanders.

It will collect information about islanders' age, sex, place of birth, ethnicity as well as the length of time they have been in Jersey.

In addition, islanders over 16 will face questions about their residential status, education qualifications, marital status, employment, as well as the hours they work and how they travel to work.

“The census helps us understand what our society needs now and what it will likely need in the future, it is important we count every single person living in the island," Chief Statistician at Statistics Jersey, Ian Cope said.

”The census takes a snapshot of the population on one day, (this year being 21 March), offering an accurate picture of the island which helps inform policy across Government."

For the first time ever, the questionnaire will also ask islanders to describe their general health, as well as list any lasting conditions that affect their day-to-day life.

Sarah Davies, Head of Statistics at Statistics Jersey, explained that this will help calculate the healthy life expectancy “at a granular level”.

Two voluntary questions have also been added to give islanders the opportunity to self-describe their gender and share their sexual orientation. 

“This is really key in terms of equality legislation,” Ms Davies said. “We do not have this information anywhere else. We want to capture this now to monitor and tackle inequality.” 

For the first time, islanders can complete the census questionnaire online via a unique access code included in the form.

The paper forms can be returned to the Census Office using the Freepost envelope enclosed with the questionnaires that were delivered to all households earlier this month.

7,000 households have already completed and returned their census, which is a higher number of early returns since 2011. More than 50% of those have been filed online.

Mr Cope said the team had received "really positive feedback on how quick and easy islanders have been finding the online option."

Completing the census is a legal requirement and islanders could face a fine of up to £1,000 if they don’t take part or supply false information.

More information and support is available online and via the Census 2021 helpline 01534 444400.