Jersey Police Face Lowest Number of Complaints in 10 Years

Cases Against Jersey Police Drop to Lowest Level in a Decade

The number of formal cases filed against Jersey police officers has fallen to its lowest point in ten years, according to the island’s police watchdog.

In its latest annual report, the Jersey Police Complaints Authority (JPCA) revealed that just nine new cases were recorded in 2024—down from 12 in 2023 and significantly lower than the decade-high of 35 in 2014.

While a complaint refers to an individual allegation made by a member of the public, a case is created when such a complaint is escalated and brought under the JPCA’s supervision.

A total of 56 complaints were lodged in 2024, with 44% resolved informally, the report said. That figure is slightly down from 59 complaints in 2023 and follows a trend seen in previous years: 64 in 2022, 55 in 2021, and 80 in 2020.

Most of the complaints in 2024 involved individuals who felt they had been harassed or threatened by police personnel. One complaint involved an allegation of serious injury. No complaints were made against honorary police officers.

JPCA Chairman Chris Stephenson, who took up the role in 2024, said the report was intended to reinforce public trust in the complaints process.

“Our primary function is to secure public confidence in policing and the complaints procedure by ensuring the police are accountable for their actions and lessons are learnt,” he said.

Stephenson also confirmed that the authority would soon transition into the Jersey Police Complaints Commission, a move that would grant it new powers to make recommendations and request information from the police.