Forensics unit funding to be reduced amid police savings drive

Tuesday 27 August 2024

Police savings across the next two years will include the loss of two members of staff and a reduction in funding for the force's forensics unit.

Chief of Police Robin Smith told the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel last week that the force is “probably as busy as it's ever been".

He explained that ongoing investigations into 15 homicides – ten from the Haut du Mont explosion, three from the sinking of L'Ecume II, and the deaths of Charlie and Dean Lowe – at the same time was an "unprecedented" level for the small island police force.

Following the Government's announcement of their spending plans, the police budget is set to drop incrementally over the next four years, with £30m set aside for 2025, £29m for 2026, and £29m for 2027 and 2028.

Pictured: The budget for the States Police over the next four years, with the 2024 figure on the far left.

However, these are all increases from the £27m granted to the department in 2024, and which was repeatedly cited as problematic.

Independent watchdog the Jersey Police Authority (JPA) warned in March that police underfunding could have "several negative consequences" amid Government requests for the force to "make significant savings".

Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat told the Panel that police budgets "remain a challenge to us", something she said was recognised by other Ministers.

She noted that saving requirements had been less than other departments that sit within her remit.

Pictured: Former police officer Mary Le Hegarat was appointed as Home Affairs Minister in February.

Mr Smith said additional funds had come into the police budget over the past four years to deal with investigations into major incidents, but as the force has driven savings, "we have effectively given that money back".

"Both in this current government and in the previous government, there has been a recognition that the States Police is probably as busy as it's ever been," he said.

"There have been three enormous investigations, and we have been well funded effectively from day one.

"That funding has continued, and it is not just the funding of those very large and complex investigations, it's also that we pull officers and staff from other places into that gap to deliver what we describe as business as usual.

"We have received additional funding from the government in recognition that it is unprecedented in the history of the States of Jersey Police, which insulated the impact to a degree and we have to properly account for that."

Pictured: Police Chief Robin Smith said that 90% of the police budget is spent on "people".

He went on to say that 90% of the police budget is spent on "people" and "inevitably, if we are trying to drive savings, more often than not, it will be trying to drive efficiencies with people".

Mr Smith continued: "We have identified our savings for 2025 and 2026, and that is two members of police staff, not police officers, and a small reduction in the forensics unit."

He said the Chief Minister was "mindful" of frontline services and there were further meetings with Ministers later this year to discuss the police budget for 2025 and 2026.

Whilst the forensics unit itself won't reduce in size, growth funding for the unit – which was allocated as part of a successful bid to pay for new people and software licences – has been reduced as part of efficiencies.

This year, the allocated funding for the Digital Forensics Unit (DFU) was £190,000, rather than the anticipated £237,000.

Next year, the unit will receive £280,000 – not the growth funding projection of £327,000.

Mr Smith added that the "current affordable" number of police officers was 201, under the minimum number of 215 officers which States Members agreed in 2019.

On whether 201 officers was sufficient, he said: "With the funding that we currently get in support of Operation Spire and Operation Nectar, the funding is sufficient.

"It has insulated us and allowed us to deal with the business as usual.

"You still need a degree of resilience, because we police an island where we can't easily get mutual aid, and we've seen in recent times the importance of maintaining a degree of police numbers.

"My hope is that our challenge will become less and less, particularly as we move into next year."