HOME Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard was forced to withdraw proposed new police powers yesterday over fears that they could impinge on Islanders’ civil liberties and right to free speech.

A law proposing new powers to deal with rowdy and disorderly behaviour as well as stalking offences was withdrawn after two hours of debate, in which Members from all sides of the House said the law went too far. Despite the backing of Chief Minister Frank Walker, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft and the Scrutiny panel responsible for Home Affairs, the prospect of making it a criminal offence to insult someone, or display writing which a witness finds offensive was deemed a step too far for Members. The charge against the legislation was led by Assistant Treasury Minister John Le Fondré, but an unlikely mix of Members from different ends of the political spectrum, including Environment Scrutiny panel chairman Rob Duhamel, Education Minister Mike Vibert, Economic Scrutiny panel chairman Geoff Southern and Assistant Chief Minister Ian Gorst all spoke against the proposals.