SERIOUS allegations of bullying within the States police force are being investigated, according to Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand.
The minister has spoken publicly for the first time about his concerns about the ‘instability’ within the police force. It has been revealed that 37 police officers have left the force over the last year, and that and 20 of those resignations were unexpected. But mystery still surrounds why the police officers resigned and who was the behind the alleged bullying.
During a two-hour public meeting held by the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny panel yesterday, Senator Le Marquand also revealed that complaints had been made from other organisations that the police refused to co-operate with them.
He explained that the States police were going through a great period of instability and he vowed to intervene if the problems were not addressed. Police chief Graham Power remains suspended amid allegations that he failed in his duty to ensure that the historical child abuse inquiry was conducted properly, and a senior police officer also remains suspended, on full pay, following an alleged sex assault on board a boat last year.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Roy Le Hérissier, who was joined by Deputies Trevor Pitman and Montfort Tadier, who questioned the minister on a number of major issues within the criminal justice policy.
