Constables will have wide ranging powers over Sunday trading
CONSTABLES will get wide powers to allow shops to trade on Sundays next year after the States backed sweeping reform to the Sunday trading law.
Under the old list system the law set out what could or could not be sold, but the new system, which will start next year, will let the 12 Constables decide which shops can open, subject to guidelines set by the States.
Amendments were passed to restrain shop opening on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Liberation Day and Good Friday.
The regulations that will provide guidelines to the Constables in deciding on applications to trade on Sundays are due to be published next year.
Article posted on 5th November, 2009 - 3.00pm
7 Article Comments
Hope I’m not being thick by asking but does this mean that a constable of one parish may allow an item to be sold which is not permitted in a neighbouring parish?
If so then it lacks consistency, it should be an island wide policy.The old system was laughable, you could buy alcohol, cigarettes and porn on a Sunday but not flowers?
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Looks like precisely what you describe Keith. One day we’ll have some joined-up thinking in this island where a rule’s a rule and it doesn’t change from parish to parish.
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No shopping on Christmas because it’s a religous day.
Do allow shopping on Sundays because it doesn’t matter that it’s a religous day!
More of the ‘joined up’ thinking our States are famed for!
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The constables in their wisdom choose to allow fireworks to be on sale for a longer period – in the the JEP we read there have been alot of problems with fireworks through letterboxes, etc – great result.
The M&S outlets are always mobbed on Sundays so Sunday trading is obviously what the population want.
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What does religion have to do with business anyway?
Businesses won’t survive on religious views!
Let the shop keeper & public decide!
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This is ridiculous and a backward step. Businesses will now be hostage to a post code lottery based on your Constables religious preference. This is discrimination by Parish. If the Constables see sense and the potential discrimination they could present then they will all vote for the same rules in which case what’s the point of giving the power to them in the first place?
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Yet another wasted opportunity by the States.
Instead of actually bring an outdated law up to date, they make a few half-arsed changes to try and show they’re listening and understanding the mood of the people they represent, but actually they’re just messing about and wasting time and money for little or no real gain.
Why treat one day differently from the next?
Why put the administration in the hands of the constables?
The only reason I can see to treat Sunday any differently to another day is on religious grounds; something which has no relevance to the vast, vast majority of people.
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