States reject call for police suspension inquiry
Wednesday 24th February 2010, 2:58PM GMT.
The States sat in camera this morning
The States have rejected a proposition for a committee of inquiry into the suspension of police chief Graham Power.
They voted by 26 to 21 against Deputy Bob Hill’s proposal after an in-camera debate lasting just over four hours.
Mr Power has been off work on full pay for well over a year since he was suspended by former Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis over his handling of the historical child abuse inquiry. The suspension is thought to have cost the taxpayer up to £1m.
Deputy Bob Hill wanted a committee of inquiry to be held which would have had the power to force witnesses to attend and give evidence, and to demand any documents that it wanted to see. He said that the suspension pointed to a conspiracy, and that it needed to be fully investigated. But ministers resisted the proposition.
• Full report in Thursday’s Jersey Evening Post
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
JEP Jubilee Editions
Saturday 2 June: Guide to Celebrations
Wednesday 6 June: Souvenir of Events
View The Queen in Jersey supplement
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
If the claims of a ‘cover-up’ are untrue then surely Messers Ogley and Co. have nothing to fear. In fact an inquiry would strengthen their position with regard to the suspension. . .
Wonder why there is so much backlash against an open and full investigation. And why was this pre-debate debate held behind closed doors?
So much for an open and transparent government!
Report abuse
another embarrasing episode of local government. the public again is not entitled to the facts, yet it represents no national security issue or commercial confidentaility. although, i suspect, it does represent how our local system is not fir for purpose.
hurrah to Dep. Bob Hill for sticking his nose in where it’s not wanted (by the Council of Ministers).
i await the briefings against him.
Report abuse
‘Secret Power Debate’
Well obviously Sen. Syvret should get invisability.
Dep. Power, flight.
Dep. Tadier already has a touch of Wolverine about him.
Not sure about the others, any ideas?
Report abuse
I just have one or two simple questions, why is it necessary to be held in secret and what does it being held in secret actually acheive? What can there possibly be that requires it to be in secret surely they just vote yes or no. This only serves to prove how high and mighty many of them feel they are in that job that they cant have a simple debate open to the public.
It just begars belief how they run things over here, I am surprised the sandwich fiasco wasnt held in secret, but maybe no one minded us public tax paying fools knowing which way they voted.
Report abuse
Surely proceedings should be totally open and transparent. Why on earth would the States sitting be held ‘in camera’ unles there is something to hide?
Graham Power should be given a fair hearing and to achieve that he should be able to call upon all the witnesses and evidence he needs. To do otherwise will give the impression that Jersey is run like a Stalinist State.
Whilst I have not been a great admirer of Mr. Power, I do believe in fairness. The European Convention of Human Rights would surely demand that Mr. Power is entitled to ‘equality of arms’ in the fight to clear his name.
I wish there were more States members like Bob Hill; he has complete integrity and high ethical codes.
Report abuse
Well, well, what a surprise. The whole thing badly needs a full inquiry – impartial and not set up by the joke of a Chief Minister. Instead, the usual suspects vote to do nothing of value.
Sickening. As sickening as the JEP editorial a couple of days ago, which slated Lenny Harper.
Report abuse
Is anyone surprised!?!
Report abuse
be interesting to see who voted for what, that should either answer a few questions or simply add to this ever growing ‘consipiracy’ theory. Or wont we find out who voted for what because it was incamera?
Report abuse
Yet another good reason to disband this gang..that vote like a gang and let’s have Govt reform the old committee system gave representative Govt…we have in effect lost Democracy….this is and continues to be alarming and should bother every citizen with a conscience.
Report abuse
I bet there is a lot more to this than the cover up theorists seem to think and in saying that a full enquiry may have brought things up they did not want to hear. Haut de la Garenne was nothing but a cock up and thats a fact.
Report abuse
Look, this is getting ridiculous.
As soon as we find out who voted which way, we can then be informed as to who we wish to vote for at the next round of elections.
Ministers, we WILL remember this …
Report abuse
I don’t think there has ever been a public enquiry into any Chief of Police suspension anywhere so why should Jersey Police be any different? The Syvret supporters are clutching at straws because the battle is lost and they know it and especially when their messiah loses his title in April!
Report abuse
I suppose it means we wont know who voted which way or if we can find out where do i look?
Open and transparent, not worth the paper that description was written on. How are people not meant to believe something stange is going on when this happens in secret. If i had a spare million I woud pay for it myself!
Report abuse
no surprise there
Report abuse
What a stupid proposition. Everybody knows the handling of the historic child abuse enquiry was a diabolical act of policing. Does he really want a public enquiry into this? It could be the final nail in the coffin for Harper, Power & Syvret.
Report abuse
26 voters pour. A sensible result. This enquiry would be a complete waste of public money and time so for once the COM got it 100% right for once. Deputy Bob Hill get on with something important for once please!
Report abuse
Another valid reason to get rid of the CoM and their hangers on in my opinion. I myself have zero confidence in the CoM to get anything right. When are the voters who voted for these types going to wake up and smell the coffee?
How can you have transparent government when the government does things behind closed doors? It is a joke now, this island is a laughing stock to many looking in from near and afar. Not that public opinion counts for anything these days, unless it is election month that is.
Bob Hill is a man of integrity and they should have supported his request. Says loads about things over here as far as I am concerned.
Report abuse
@ 11Malcolm
What has the Graham Power affair got to do with “Syvret supporters”? Perhaps you know more than the common man or are you just trying to throw enough mud around hoping that some will stick?
Please, do tell ….
Report abuse
..incredible…Good to see that Deputy Hill took this forward….and now the two police officers who were suspended the last 18 months and whose disciplinary hearing found in their favour are being given the whole of their 2009 annual leave before returning to work….absolutely dispicable!!!!
Report abuse
There are voices calling for nation statehood and pride in what we all stand for. What sort of Jerseyman/woman could resist deputy Hill’s proposition, knowing the facts as they all most certainly do, and still resist what is right.We are in no way ready for statehood or anything near it.
Report abuse
It really isn’t hard to see how they voted,just look at a certain honest politicians blog and prepare to be surprised.
Report abuse
Deputy Hill should be congratulated on his actions,determination and integrity.Regardless of who is right or wrong,a commission of inquiry is essential to put this whole issue to rest and ensure Jersey regains its integrity.The Council of Ministers is gang handed in always following the Chief Minister’s briefing and as his comes from Mr.Ogley there is a vested interest here.
Sadly Jersey’s government is becoming more untrustworthy.Politicians were voted in by the public,taxpayers money used for this fiasco and Mr .Days and we have a right to know what is happening.
Report abuse
Deputy Hill has been influenced by a small hand full of rebels on the Net and a certain blog is making the usual anti establshment stance as predictable as per usual. Its getting very very boring now and you can tell people are bored of it by the lack of intereaction on this pointless subject. This is no way as one sided as some Net goons are making out.
Report abuse
Come on children! If this was a REAL banana republic the Chief of Police would be taken out and shot without ceremony.
That’s not what’s happened here . Is it?
Report abuse
Reading some of these comments about Deputy Hill being some kind of saviour of justice is just laughable. He will be setting up a blog next.
Report abuse
Luckily there are now other sources to gets one’s news from. These often paint a completely different picture.
I know which source I believe and which one I don’t! Others probably do as well.
Report abuse
You can fool some of the people some of the time,but you can,t fool all of the people all of the time.
I know which one I believe.
Report abuse
I don’t understand why this was brought up in the first place because I agree that the handling of Haut de la Garenne was totally pathetic. Who else can they blame but the Chief of Police at the time? So how can that be a set up?
Report abuse
To all those bemoaning the vote, welcome to democracy. Government of the majority for the majority.
When your Democratic Peoples Front of Jersey (or is it the Peoples Democratic Front of Jersey, I get confused) have the majority, then you get to send our economy into the toilet by irresponsibly spending other peoples money on whatever you want.
Perhaps when your ‘representatives’ actually come up with policies which improve the lives of the majority of the voting public, you’ll actually start to win a few propositions !
Report abuse
Greg #23 said “you can tell people are bored of it..”
You wish! Most decent people, those who value honesty and transparency in government, are very angry by it.
I agree wholeheartedly with Blue Knight #5 who stated the proper position very well.
Report abuse
Accredited media is the media which can be sued if it gets it wrong. The unaccredited media is like reading Alice in Wonderland sometimes and is unaccountable for make believe rubbish anyway. The public deserve more than amateur propaganda on some of these issues from the blogs so I know who I believe. I would say it was now time to legislate citizens media so that slanderous accusations can be challenged because at the moment people are getting away with murder.
Report abuse
Thank goodness that is something else that was going to cost a fortune over and done with. Enough money has been poured into this situation for goodness sake let us all move on with sorting far more important issues
Report abuse
‘Yellow Saint’, ‘Red Robin’ – Methinks you are taking the ‘wee wee’. Some people are getting away from the point here; the issue is openness, transparency and accountability.
Forget Stuart Syvret and Lenny Harper; we should be focusing on a man’s right to defend his reputation.
I imagine that none of us who have made submissions on this discussion board, are aware of the facts and I for one have probably formed a view based on anecdotal evidence. All of us have likes and dislikes and I have openly conceded that I am not a great fan of Messrs Power, Harper or Syvret. Nevertheless they should all be given the right to be heard; it’s a basic human right to express yourself and to form views and hold opinions.
Bob Hill is a retired Metropolitan Police Sergeant and whilst he advocates an inquiry, I would hope that he is acting with impartiality. None of us know, but Graham Power may – just may – be able to prove he is innocent. The States aren’t affording him the right to do that and that is wrong.
Report abuse
james democracy and Jersey don’t go together as far as I am concerned, having nearly 10% of the government unelected into their government posts is not democratic is it? Maybe in the former East Germany this was the way of things but not in a democracy I’m afraid.
I see it that Jersey has been run by a defacto one party for a long time. The same sorts for years now. As a spin on Monty Python,
“you can have businessmen, businessmen, businessmen and businessmen running your government.”
“Can’t we have anyone else?”
“NO!”
By the way things are getting worse just in case you hadn’t noticed. Maybe you rate things like GST as a way to make things better I don’t.
Anyone who believes everything they read on here must be daft in my opinion. This is the government’s mouthpiece IMHO.
Report abuse
Of course there’s something to hide, but probably for a good reason,and probably only for a period of time
Why on earth do people want the dung heap turned over in public so as to start making us all smell again.
Sort the truth from the lies and unsubstantiated innuendo in private first, then let the public know the full facts.Protect the inocent from being slaughtered by the media for a change.
It was Lenny Harpers mishandling of the media on Graham Powers watch that caused the problem in the first place.
And now the same people are braying we repeat that misguided paparazzi feeding frenzy.
Report abuse
Greg (23), Robin (25) and Kate (32). You appear to have had a privileged insight on a secret States debate. Can you enlighten the rest of us as to what took 4 hours of debate? Nothing?
Maybe you could start by addressing why the public should not be told if police our force is corrupt or not? If the police are honest and decent there is nothing to hide; why should anything be secret?
Reading these comments Red Robin it is your vision on justice which is “just laughable”. The finance industry depends on honesty and integrity. You, with others, would appear to wish to undermine the one industry that Jersey has left. You are no Jerseyman.
Report abuse
Yellow Saint,
“Accredited media is the media which can be sued if it gets it wrong.” You are very wrong.
Anyone can be sued if they get it wrong.
The authors/publishers of these various blogs or media are well known. As a result, any slanderous accusations can be challenged and they can be sued.
Also, by way of non-legal challenge, I note that the States Empoyment Board will not be challenging any of the ‘slanderous allegations’ made against staff by issuing any denials as per the recommendations of the (very expensive) Chapman report which (as a reminder) stated:-
“..it is the responsibility of the SEB as the employer to refute publicly any such allegation that is made in clear, unequivocal and firm but moderate language that the allegation is baseless.
On each occasion the statement should be backed up, wherever possible, with the evidence refuting the allegation.
In addition to making the denial as widely available as possible, staff should be made aware it has been done and the material widely
disseminated. It should be posted on the blog”
Why on earth will they not do it? Come on SEB, challenge them.
I am also very very surprised, if these publishers keep getting it wrong and they publish ‘slanderous allegations’, that no-one has issued proceedings to date as far, as I am aware. Not one.
I certainly would if someone was lying about me to that extent.
So Yellow Saint, there are mechanisms, legal and otherwise, for challenging accusations on blogs. Not all of them cost money (as if that should be the only motivation)
Curiously, no-one wants to do it. Read into that what you will.
Report abuse
A few people (maybe the same) are trying to make out that Graham Power should never have been suspended in the first place. I find this strange because the damming reports on the handling of the historic child abuse case including digging for unreported missing persons is pretty conclusive in my mind. We seem to have a small number of people that want to cast dispersions on Jersey all the time. Whether they are actually born in Jersey I truely wonder but the facts are that this is a police suspension which is being handled by the Wiltshire police and it was re-reviewed by Ian Le Marquand and matters stand.
Where all these conspiracies are coming from is just crazy, Bob Hill was a friend of Graham Power and is using his political influence to make a meal out of nothing. No matter what the outcome of the enquiry Graham Power won’t be coming back so why waste any more time on a such a pointless subject?
Report abuse
PJG
It is a credit to you that you care about the feelings of the innocent. However, by raising the HdlG matter you seem to be missing the point.
The inquiry was to relate to the manner by which Mr Power was suspended and NOT his handling of the investigation – or indeed Mr Harper. That issue is being dealt with separately by the Wiltshire Constabulary.
It was to be inquring into whether any civil sevants and/or politicians were up to no good in relation to his supension. In that respect it would have been no different to, say, the recent enquiry into the failure of civil servant and/or politicians to fix the exchange rate on the new incinerator.
Evidence has been produced which ‘suggests’ that civil servants and/or politicians have told lies in the run up to the suspension.
Why should the public not know if it is true or not? And if it is, who should be held to account? We pay their salaries after all!
It sounds like simple transparency of the checks and balances required to enable good governance.
Some States members however clearly think that we don’t need such transparency and would rather they keep their misdmeanours hidden from those who pay their wages.
If there are no misdemeanours or course, there is nothing to hide.
Report abuse
Sam the Man (Or could it be Sam the Van?) # 38. Your submission is very articulate and you appear to have considerable insight on this matter.
Whether or not there is a conspiracy of silence, I don’t know; however the way the situation has been handled is dreadful. The debate gives the impression of deceit and duplicity, whereas most people want openness and transparcney.
As PJG said at # 35 “It was Lenny Harper’s mishandling of the media (re: H de la G) on Graham Power’s watch that caused the problem in the first place.”
There may be mitigation and that needs to be heard to at least give Mr. Power the chance to clear his name.
Report abuse
Adrian,
1) Even by your own misguided calculations, electors get to vote in 90% of the states members. I would say that is pretty democratic. If the Bailiff, Dean and AG represent 10% of our Government, you appear to have used some fairly liberal rounding errors to come to a 10% figure ?
Perhaps you could also inform me which of the 53 politicans who get to vote on propositions, and thus dictate Government policy, are unelected ?
2)Other than the JDA, there are no political parties in Jersey, defacto or otherwise. There are simply politicians who vote as they believe their electors, the people who put them in their positions, would wish them to vote. The fact that you are not seeing the votes go the way you wish is because not enough politicians see the world as you do. You can moan as much as you want, but you must face the fact that you, and those representatives you support, are in a minority. The fact that you, and they, do not get the results you want does not make it
un-democratic.
3) I’m not aware of any legislation that prohibits non-businessmen from running for the States, however perhaps you could enlilghten me ?
I’m also not sure quite how the Southerns, the Le Claires, the Pitmans, the Tadiers, the Wimberleys et managed to slip into the States if we are only permitted to vote in ‘businessmen’
4) I’m not quite sure where the GST issue comes into this, but I’m sorry if things are ‘getting worse’ for you. Perhaps you need to look at yourself and your actions to resolve this, rather than spending most of your time on the internet acting as some sort of unofficial spokesman for the oppressed.
5) The JEP comments section as a mouthpiece of the Government. Interesting, coming from one of the most frequent commenters on this and many other sites.
Perhaps people might take you and your views more seriously in your next election campaign if you started to engage with the facts, rather than relying on the same old tired rhetoric of ‘East Germany’, ‘One party States’, ‘alternative news sources as the only source of truth’, ‘government conspiracies’ and other such fanatsies.
Report abuse
Frosty reception, evidence has not been produced to confirm anything. This is a lot of ‘he says she says’ with accusations flying and denials. Now who you choose to believe is up to you but I doubt many people out of there would care less about this suspension simply by re-looking at the run up to it. But please stop saying one party is telling definate lies unless you are prepared to stick your real name to it.
Report abuse
Well done Frosty you’ve identified the elephant in the room, as far as I am concerned others have missed this point prefering to attack a certain person for blowing the whistle on things.
As far as I am concerned to keep drawing attention to oneself by being evasive and not forthcoming with answers because others don’t need to know is a silly thing to do. A bit like keeping a bonfire smouldering because you don’t want people to see the smoke, and then panicking when it re-ignites.
From what I have been told by some around at the time, this approach was adopted after the Liberation and these old wounds are still festering below the surface and will never go away. People never forget any perceived injustices they have suffered and neither do their families.
I say get it out in the open, be damned if you have to be, take your medicine, where appropriate, and get on with life. Everything is then seen to be above board and any perceived injustices are more likely to go away.
Report abuse
Sam the man #38 you are sadly mistaken when you say that “this is a police suspension which is being handled by the Wiltshire police”.
It is not.
The conduct of the HdelG enquiry is being handled by Wiltshire plod – NOT the suspension of Mr Power. That is what Deputy Hill was trying to address.
The sooner people like you see the difference between the two the better. Unless you are being deliberately obtuse or recalcitrant.
Report abuse
I believe Mr Power is innocent and its all a cover up. Why are our government so scared?
Report abuse
Frosty Reception #39
My thanks for your correction.
BUT
Do you honestly think the paparazzi will restrain themselves to the relevant when there are shock headlines to be had as the facts of the matter are drip-feed to the public,HdelG will almost certainly get a mention.
I maintain, its better for all to get “all” the facts straight before broadcasting them. No matter what the enquiry.
As lenny Harper should have.
One only has to look at a certain ministers blog to see how facts, innuendo and damright lies can be taken out of context and distorted to cause mischief, all in the name of transparancy.
Report abuse
Listening to Bob Hill on the radio, after clearly stating that he was supporting Power then went on to state that he had already decided who he would be appointing to conduct this review. Sorry but maybe the conspiracy gang can explain how this would have in any way been independent. Any review must be conducted by independent neutral persons so it was right to reject this proposition out of hand and I would suggest people pay close attention to the democratic credentials of those who voted in favour.
This whole proposition is just a further example of a backbencher wasting both government time and taxpayers money, all which would be better focused on running the Island.
Report abuse
Another missed opportunity for Jersey to be seen to be open and transparent and I applaud Bob Hill for taking this forward in the first place. I do hope he continues to ask the questions that are in the public interest.
Report abuse
PJG
I fail to see what kind of shock headlines would be available to the paps when the enquiry was geared to be in connection with who did what to bring about Mr Power’s suspension. HdlG would not even feature because it is irrelevant towhther civil servants and/or politicians were dishonest.
I don’t recall any such concern for innocent people when other public enquiries take place.
The ‘protect the innocent’ line would then become available to every proposition for a public enquiry. That can’t be right. Can it?
Report abuse
Matt #42 Do please read someone’s post before you comment. It often helps with the intellectual level of the debate.
I did not say there was evidence which ‘confirmed’ anything. I said there was evidence, in the form of a police statement (by Lewis) a subsequent contradictory document (by Lewis) and a sworn affidavit (by Power). All of which SUGGESTS (note the difference to the word ‘confirms’)that someone is letting lies.
?
Report abuse
PJG # 46 Absolutely right; Lenny Harper’s press strategy was total nonsense. It would have been better had Mr. Power pulled the reins in, to control his deputy and prevent him from putting his foot in his mouth. If he had done that then he might not be in the mess he is in now.
That aside, the subsequent debacle presided over by Terry Le Sueur and other States members together with senior civil servants, does not set a good example for the public. These members of the hierarchy would surely expect to be respected; well they won’t get it after the way they have behaved.
Report abuse
I demand a public enquiry into why there won’t be a public enquiry. Then I want a public enquiry into anyone who says I shouldn’t have a public enquiry. Sanity is quite right at 47. The Wilshire investigation into HDLG will say if it was a complete fiasco. If it was, it happened on Power’s watch and he was rightfully suspended for having no grip on Harper. For Bob Hill, a policeman in the 50′s to harp on at every opportunity on any subject involving the police as if he has some deep, current insight is nonsense. As for his proposed public enquiry, manned by people he nominates as already agreeing with him on Power, how on earth is that going to be independent? What he means is he wants an enquiry, as long as it agrees with his conclusions, sorry, assumptions. Of course it was voted down, it’s common sense. But common sense isn’t an idea understood by the conspiracy theorists, is it?
Report abuse
Why,oh why do we have to keep going round in circles.! There are 2 separate issues here,the handling of the Haut de la Garenne enquiry and the suspension of Mr.Power.In the first,the buck stops at the top and includes the Council of Ministers,Mr.Ogley and Mr .Power.Any enquiry should involve all parties instead of Ministers and Mr.Ogley jumping ship.
With Mr.Powers suspension,like Mr .Days,it has been prolonged and against all Human Rights.Mr.Power has the right to a fair hearing and it is upto the States of Jersey to justify their actions.At the moment,Jersey’s Employment Laws need updating and anyone choosing to suspend some one in a senior position knows this and also the cost of paying someone off.I believe that in asking Mr.Power to consider his position,Deputy Lewis also had a second card in his hand,which was suspension and the cost was known.All credit to Mr.Power that he is defending his rights.
Report abuse
Frosty Reception who you choose to believe is your call but nobody knows anything for certain and who is to say that Graham Power is not just saying things to save face?
Report abuse
Matt you say nobody knows anything for certain. Exactly!
If you look at the worst case scenario, it is entirely possible that government officials at the highest levels have committed serious acts of misconduct.
It is not about who I believe, that is irrelevant because I do not know the facts. What is important is that this issue goes to the heart of our government – potentially. Don’t you think that you, as a tax payer has a right to know if your government is corrupt?
You also say “who is to say that Graham Power is not just saying things to save face? ”
Who is to say he is not doing anything but telling the truth? Without transparency Mr Power cannot clear his name. If he happens to be wrong – to hell with him but if he happens to be right, the rotten apples in the barrel will remain.
I cannot see a better case where a public enquiry is needed.
Blue Knight, do not be sucked into the distracton of HdlG. That is not what this is about and I think you know that from your previous posts.
Report abuse
Frosty Reception
You say there needs to be an enquiry.
I agree, but where I differ from you is I think it should be in camera until the truth has been found.
Then and only then should the findings be publicised.
These are your own words
“Matt you say nobody knows anything for certain. Exactly!”
I presume you include yourself in this statement
Much better for us to learn from facts than debate innuendo from a half completed enquiry.
Report abuse
Frosty Reception you say that Graham Power should be able to clear his name.
Well okay, then why on earth did he not face his disciplinary then?
Whats the saying about heat in the kitchen?
Report abuse
I am sure the truth will come out eventually and I would put a wager on that it won’t be the result the Stuart supporters want. Even now they are acting desperate in demanding answers before an enquiry has been done. When is somebody going to tell them that the law does not work this way?
Report abuse
Euan Mee-Deputy Hill must have been a very, very young policeman in the Met in the fifties! Maybe the youngest ever!
Report abuse
alexa are you saying this is one copper trying to look after another then?!
Report abuse
Frosty Reception # 55. It isn’t easy to separate HdelaG from this fiasco, but I understand what you are inferring. The essential point is everyone is entitled to know the truth and to have an open and transparent government, rather than the obfuscation the island is confronted with now. What happened to government by the people and for the people? Evidently it isn’t the Jersey way.
Report abuse
Sorry but this is about following a fair and transparent disciplinary process and not making your own up as one goes along,as in the case of Day,Huchet and Powers.Employment Law and Human Rights is to allow everyone the right to defend themselves.If the current government and employers are allowed to blatantly breach processes then we will never be able to say we have an open and transparent society.
OK it hurts everyone to get it wrong but at least those in senior positions get paid enough ,to be brave enough, to do the right thing.
Report abuse
Alan, you only have to read their leaders blog and today’s JEP on the Chapman Report to see they don’t know how judicial process works nor respect for confidentiality. I am surprised at Deputy Hill being suckered in by this, he has lost any future vote from me.
Report abuse
Matt #57 you ask “why on earth did he not face his disciplinary then?”
The easy answer to this question Matt, as you haven’t been paying attention to the case, is to simply point out that NO disciplinary proceedings have yet taken place. Ipso Facto there hasn’t yet been one for him to face.
PJG, our opinions differ on how an enquiry should take place. I have no problem with that.
I just fail to see how an enquiry into whether our civil service is corrupt or just made mistakes in this case should be any different to any outher enquiry – such as the exchange rate fixing enquiry.
Report abuse
MB is that the posting where he calls a load of people gangsters? If it is then perhaps people should read it if not to see the state of Mr Syvret’s thinking.
Frosty Reception follow the news, the Wiltshire Police enquiry is almost over and they announced this last month.
Report abuse
Sanity democracy? As far as I am concerned no government in the world is democratic in its truest sense of the word. It is just that some are more democratic than others.
By all means people are free to believe their government if they so wish. This however doesn’t stop at least one person in any given government from being less than honest does it?
As a perfect example the weapons of mass distruction in Iraq. Anyone who believed that is a gullible fool in my honest opinion.
As per facts how do you ascertain them if you have no knowledge of these events? It is like a poacher taking salmon from a river and not being caught isn’t it? The facts are, he acted illegally but there is no evidence of this to prosecute him with. So in this example there is no evidence of poaching but the facts are poaching occured.
Report abuse
I think every nation has to have a ruling authority ultimately in control and even if there are items which are not in the best public interest then so be it. The way some of these posters talk you would think they would want the Police to stick all their records online so that they can then nose through them. I also notice that a few posters on this thread evidently do not even come from Jersey so I would question their objectives because we are well aware there are some outside politicions in the UK who hate our Island. One comment earlier said that if this was another country the Chief of Police could well of been pulled outside and shot without a so called ‘fair trial’. Thank yourselves that we do not live in such a place and also thank yourselves that you do have free speech but its just a shame that a tiny few do not respect other people Human Rights.
Report abuse
Adrian – I understand your point but on the other hand we have elected these people to consider all of the facts, do their own research and have to trust them to make the right decisions on our behalf. A lesson we all learn in early childhood is that sometimes what we want is very difference to what we need but because we either do not have all the facts or are not in a position to interpret or understand these facts we don’t like the decision.
In this instance I believe there is some truth running through both sides of the argument but don’t like the fact that Deputy Hill appears to be treating us as gullible fools. This whole saga has become a one giant conspiracy theory and this one has certainly been sown on fertile ground. However, as with all conspiracy theories the truth in normally the obvious but people are so blinded by their own beliefs and wishes they cant see this. I certainly think that this is a perfect example of such but will continue to follow and await the outcome with an open mind.
Report abuse
Oh Matt- get with the programme, it seems very difficult for you to grasp the way this works.
Lets go through it again.
You asked “why on earth did he not face his disciplinary then?”
He can’t face a disciplinary hearing until the Wiltshire plod have concluded their investigation and forwarded the papers to the Home Affairs Minister. As you also say, “the Wiltshire Police enquiry is almost over”.
So, it is clear that as yet there has been no disciplinary hearing for him to face.
If it is decided that he should face a disciplinary hearing then we can see whether or not he decides to face it.
If he doesn’t then your comment is valid. However at this time it is very premature.
Report abuse
Sanity could you vouch for any of the CoM personally? If you are unable to do so then you have nothing don’t you?
See where I am coming from?
Report abuse
Frosty Reception, he announced his retirement a day after Home Affairs said that the Wiltshire Enquiry into his work was coming to an end. It is a well known move for people to resign or be fired. Now if he was prepared to face his accusers then why did he not stay on until the end of the year and continue to enjoy his full pay for doing nothing? Come on! Get with the programme!
Report abuse
Matt. Mr Power was required to retire this year. That has been known for a long, long time. He is required to give 6 months notice. The authorities have had more than enough time to bring disciplinary proceedings if they wanted to. They still can if they are quick. He hasn’t gone yet.
I bet they don’t.
Report abuse
I’m with you Frosty, I believe this will be left as it is. I know who I would believe if this ends up being the case….time will tell.
Report abuse
Lets look at some of the facts that we know exist.
Gross neglect by the States employment board for not supporting and denying any wrong doing ( supported with facts ) as per the Chapman report. To put it another way what are they afraid of, keeping so quiet, lid on worms maybe ?
Very Erie silence on all fronts.
Senior civil servants from the health department caught being economical with the truth by the JEP who received deep information from a politician. Then trying to influence the Verita report by helping to write the remit, when the report was clearly about thier failings.
Notice the “no member of staff shall suffer disciplinary proceedings”.
Shifting to Police Chief Graham Power can you not see that he was prepared to openly offer his Royal Court affidavit, Bob Hill wanted the truth by a separate inquiry and so did 21 other good States members? Reading the evidence offered, showed that senior civil servants conspired to manipulate political democracy and tried to remove non believer’s illegally.
What we have been left with after the debate is a sour taste of one person the CM engaging the services of one person in a self preservation exercise.
In saying that it may have been desirable for Deputy Hill to have gone about getting a committee in place using a different method so as not also to be seen as getting all his own people on side if indeed this was the case.
To echo many of the writers on this thread, what are they scared of by hunting and publishing the truth and nothing but the truth. This is the very real and alive kicking question for the 26 who voted NO. This will boomarang back come the elections.
Report abuse