Suspension of police chief ends
Thursday 8th July 2010, 3:00PM BST.
Mr Power says that he has been exonerated and that the suspension was unjustified
DISCIPLINARY charges against police chief Graham Power have been dropped less than two weeks before his retirement from the force.
Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand told the States yesterday that the charges were being abandoned, ending the 20-month suspension which has cost the taxpayer more than a million pounds.
Mr Power (63) has released a statement saying that he has been exonerated, and that the suspension was unnecessary and unjustified from the start.
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Does this mean that he’s no longer suspended?
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One million pound give away, come to Jersey, where we are just giving Cash away, YES CASH, and loads of it, come on down
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What a farce!
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Having watched with interest,here in sunny Egypt, the whole situation , it appears that ” budgies under the Jersey carpet ” are now a flock and there soon will be nowhere to hide.
Whatever the rights or wrongs in the Chief of Police’s suspension,his treatment by the States of Jersey,their failure to follow Human Rights principles and address natural justice continues.Sadly Senator Le Marquand continues the practice of Bill Ogley,Senator Le Sueur and Ozouf of no backbone or integrity on his watch.
Those who cover their own wrong doings by apportionning and distracting blame to others,will eventually suffer,but the impact on the individual e.g Mr.Day and Graham Power and their families in a small community continues.
The Island of Jersey and its government should be totally ashamed of itself ,in its failure to learn lessons from the past and become an honorable place to live.
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“cost the taxpayer more than a million pounds”
If Jersey was a business this would come out of the departments budget that was responsible.
If Jersey was a business the receivers would have been called a long time ago.
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We need freedom of information to see what actually happened.
It is cases like this where I feel details are kept secret not to protect society but because they are embarrassing to the government.
The Official secrets law is meant to protect our society from harm not to protect our government from blushing.
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i’m pleased for mr power – clearly a man of integrity who has behaved with maturity and dignity – alot more than can be said for those responsible for this farce.
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What a farce,they haven’t got the good grace to say they were wrong and the shadow is still hanging over him.
not allowing the right to reply.
No right to protest his innocence.
Deprived him from clearing his name of the supposed charges against him.
Now we know what the “Jersey way” way means.
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It almost beggars belief that a police officer can be suspended for two years on full pay only for all charges against him to be dropped at the end.
So that’s it then, £1 million down the swanee and absolutely nothing to show for it. Will there be an inquiry or an attempt to discover the reason for what is an almost unbelievable series of events?
No, but that is the Jersey way!
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And soon it’ll be Christmas !
or perhaps not as he was ‘self suspended ‘ on full pay . Is that the same as taking a more than a years holiday at the taxpayers expense ! at least Syvret was only six months and did do some demonstrable work!
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The people responsible for wasting taxpayer’s money should be prosecuted themselves. It’s disgusting that this has been allowed to go on for so long and no-one is accountable.
Why are we paying for this waste and Incompetence all the time?
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Not enough time to complete the investigation so it’s scrapped????? He was suspended for 2 years for goodness sake, how long does it take?? The words p##s up in a brewery spring to mind yet again.
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population 90 to 100,000 10 pound each i love paying tax and gst,
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Isn’t it high time that someone cleans these halfwit politicians from our government and start again ? Mr Le Marquand, since you topped the polls not long ago you have shown to be a complete amateur. Now shape up or get out !
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From the original suspension statement from then Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis
“In addition, of course, the Chief Officer cannot comment and has not yet had the full opportunity that the process allows to answer to these matters and to defend himself. Any debate would thus be unfair to him as the full facts are not yet known.”
Can someone please explain what Senator Le Marquand is doing
Also, are the other States members going to go along with it?
The Senator has let it get personal when he should be remaining ‘Neutral’. Are we about to have a trial with just the prosecution and no defence and from a former Magistrate.
I thought the film ‘Hot Fuzz’ was a comedy, now I realize its Jersey lol
You can see why we are in such a total mess when our Government make it up as they go along
Very sad times for all involved
rs
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I need to get myself one of these States’ jobs and get myself suspended!
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At least he has been exonerated and has a clean sheet, he has also maintained decorum throughout which is a credit to Mr Power and despite comments regarding work his private life has remained private.
Families do suffer when there is misrepresentation to a person whether personal or professional.
I think in the cases outlines above by Ms Huchet and indeed in her own case it was only their professionism that was ever called into question.
It is interesting that Ms Huchet wishes to comment about the Human Right Principles as In a case actioned and overseen by herself did she not deny a memmber of her own staff basic human rights?
Did she not also deny the person a right to privacy and really did not care about a persons family life despite being told in a tribunal that it was real persons lives being delt with.
It has to be noted, that in the cases outlined above that although stressful no-one has lost their job, they have been paid their rate throughout the suspension, and if they have left employment they have received a generous undisclosed package, no-one has been put into a situation forced to sell their home because they are no longer earning therfore can no longer pay a mortgage and no young children have been stigmatised due to the action or “supposed action” of a parent.
All that has happened is that once more Jersey States are wasting tax payers money, suspensions, incinerator, the list can go on….
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And Mr Power has allegedly left the island- and I don’t blame him.I bet he never wants to set foot on it again after the disgraceful way he has been treated.Well said comments 4 through to 9- I agree with you all.
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How many more million will it cost us tax payers before the other two police officers return to their duties. It is about time that the terms of employment for entering a States position are reviewed.
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Ref comment #5,
Jersey is not run as a business it is run as a private gentleman’s club, but one where everybody else pays the fees !
All the evidence in the public domain indicates that this suspension was politically motivated.
There was arrogant impropriety in the original suspension and in it’s unnecessary extension – Dragged out for two years – and this is “insufficient time” !
I fear that we have probably got the government we deserve – and we take it again and again – we don’t like backbone do we ?
Hang your heads in shame Le Marquand, Andrew Lewis, Warcup and the other states members and civil servants who have colluded in this or tolerated it.
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Credibility in the Council of Ministers?
SUSPENDED!!!!!
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ILM trying to keep face and hiding his incompetence?
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He was suspended for the completely abysmal handling of the Haut de La Garenne farce and his allowance to let Lenny loose on the National Press- doing several million pounds worth of damage to the island’s reputation.Face the facts the Green Room Club couldn’t have staged a better pantomime as the Lenny and Graham show.
Next week this will become clear and Senator Le M says Power supporters will have to eat humble pie
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This says everything about the bafoonery and bumbling bunch of miscreants running this place it gets depressingly worse by the day….
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Senator Le Marquand said live on T.V. last night that ex Police Chief Power has had ample opportunity to defend himself against the allegations, might be a bit difficult for him as he has not been told what the allegations are.
Senator Le Marquand topped the poll recently, but has so far has failed to impress, he said on the Jersey B.B.C. Sunday “Talkback” recently that he had a statement to make the next day which was profound and devastating, we waited with bated breath, however Senator Le Marquand did not turn in for work the next day, so we are still waiting!
He will ,given time, blend in well with the rest of the comedians.
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Hi arthur smith #23
What’s this? Senator Le M promising us another “scandal” – I do hope it is better than the last one he promised us.
None of ILM’s promises have amounted to much – election until present; what a disappointment !
What is actually “abysmal” is the abuse that took place at Haut de La Garenne and elsewhere over decades, in states care. The farce and pantomime is the failure of the states to investigate years/decades ago and their recent and present prioritisation on reputation not justice.
Keep these things buried and they will happen again.
“Humble pie” -yummy! – Do leave some for us.
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But let us not forget it was States members that employed Power and Harper in the first place, so the buck must stop with the States surely.
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” arthur smith
Posted July 9, 2010 at 11:58 am
He was suspended for the completely abysmal handling of the Haut de La Garenne farce and his allowance to let Lenny loose on the National Press- doing several million pounds worth of damage to the island’s reputation.”
Thank you for enlightening me, Arthur.
Until I read your comment I was stupid enough to think the rape, battery and abuse of children in the island’s care home system was the source of damage to our reputation.
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26 agree
doing everything they can to keep the truth from us.
Anything to stop jersey getting a bad reputation well they got it anyway——–remember Frank telling Stuart he was trying to shaft jersey internationally——–all caught on camera!
It may come back to haunt them yet.
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One of the things to remember about Jersey politics is that the buck seldom stops with anyone.
Most blame can be handed around in a game of political pass the parcel until everyone is totally exonerated.
The ministerial system was supposed to bring accountability, it hasn’t, all it has achieved is to raise weaseling to a new and undreamed of height in Jersey politics.
Ian le Marquand promised to tackle the Rouge Bouillon Kremlin and the failings at the La Moye Hilton in his manifesto.
Despite being an ex judge and hence an insider who understands how they work he has had very little impact.
Sadly the Jersey Police Authority proposal is still lying in the dusty never likely to be implemented tray where his predecessor let it lie during her tenure as well!
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I think no 17 is privy to information that we have failed to read in the JEP etc.Has Mr.Power and Day been given a substantial undisclosed pay out that the public is unaware of.? I thought Mr Power had just resigned and Mr Day was reinstated.
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Ian Le Marquand’s redemption might come from publishing the Wiltshire Police’s report on the H de la G debacle.
Next week, if the report is released, we may see whether Graham Power and Lenny Harper have really been exonerated…..it isn’t over until the fat lady sings.
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The problem with Graham Power is that he failed to demonstrate any leaderhip when his deputy embarked on a £20 million fiasco, which served no one and is one of the main reasons why there are now some tough decisions on increasing taxes.
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The can’s lid is bulging and the worms are dying to get out. Desperate Ministers are sitting on it to avoid this. However the tin is beginning to rust and one day they WILL get out. Only a matter of time and all hell will break loose ! Then Le Marquand will need more than a glass of milk….
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“Chris P Bacon
Posted July 9, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Ian Le Marquand’s redemption might come from publishing the Wiltshire Police’s report on the H de la G debacle.”
There will be no redemption unless the report is published completely unabridged, and consists of solid evidence clearly and overwhelmingly damning of Graham Power.
Anything less and I hope to see a vote of no confidence brought against Le Marquand.
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So the ‘accredited’ media get the report 4 days before the non COM elected politicians.
All in a crass attempt to spin spin spin.
Remember that it’s Operation Blast and it’s true inceptors and the development corruption files episode, that’s behind all this! If as it seems the Wiltshire Report ‘Rules of Engagement’ pivot around ACPO as has now been suggested, just remember Ian, that many people have read those and the obvious compliance that GP undertook as a consequence.
Your ‘cherry picking ‘ and spinning is likely to have as negative result as overfilling a blender with red fruits when trying to make a ‘smoothie’!
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In response to No 30 Shady past comment
shady past
I think no 17 is privy to information that we have failed to read in the JEP etc.Has Mr.Power and Day been given a substantial undisclosed pay out that the public is unaware of.? I thought Mr Power had just resigned and Mr Day was reinstated.”
I think my comment has been taken out of context
I said It has to be noted, that in the cases outlined above that although stressful no-one has lost their job, they have been paid their rate throughout the suspension, and if they have left employment they have received a generous undisclosed package,
Ms Huchet left, with an undisclosed package
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=440222
Mr Power has taken retirement http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/01/22/suspended-police-chief-wants-to-retire-in-july/
Mr Day has returned to work
http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/02/03/investigation-into-suspension-of-hospital-consultant/
I am NOT privvy to other information I just read the news not just on this site but elsewhere
Read more: http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/07/08/suspension-of-police-chief-ends/#ixzz0tTw7kect
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#35 – Christine
“I am NOT privvy to other information I just read the news not just on this site but elsewhere”
Perhaps you should try broadening the sources of your news even more – you might find yourself with a more balanced view over the suspensions of Mr Power and Mr Day.
What galls me over these two suspensions is that although both men acted throughtout with integrity, their employer, shamefully, did not. And even after both cases have been dropped and, effectively, both men found innocent, those responsible within the States cannot find a way to act decently and afford these men the respect they deserve.
No wonder Private Eye calls our island ‘the Sceptic Isle’
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No 38,Gary I totally agree.Re the comments of no 17 and 37,life is about integrity and responsibility and acountability for one’s own actions.Alot of media articles re just to feed the public the information they wish to hear.Mr Power and Mr Day did behave impeccably to try and address injustice against themselves.The States o Jersey reps behaved like a bunch of cowards with not an ounce of integrity.Shallow comes to mind.
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Well done Mr Power- I dont blame you for wanting to get away from Jersey after all the lies and muck raking.
Now what will happen to the people who suspended Mr Power and wasted money and time on this pointless exercise? probably they will get promoted after all this is Jersey!
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39 and 40. The reports come out tomorrow. Save your hysteria till then; you may have considerable egg on your faces in due course…
It was taxpayers money he was throwing around like confetti and you think that shouldn’t be queried…?
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41#Dwayne
It would seem to me that the person throwing tax payers money around like confetti at the moment is Senator Le Marquand.
The Wiltshire report was prepared with regard to the disciplinary hearing for Mr Power. It has cost over GBP1 million, not including the time costs of Crown Officers and others to review it. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, finalisation of the Report took so long that Mr Le Marquand has eventually decided to drop the case, therefore the report is effectively redundant. That is a total waste of taxpayers money.
As an aside, it would be useful to receive a breakdown of the GBP12 million costs of the HDLG investigation (accrued under Mr Power’s leadership) – how much were legal fees, how much actual police costs and how much was considered excessive. Then, perhaps we could begin considering the actual overspend and maybe compare that to the loss on other States projects – Incinerator / Cavern / Beauport etc – and see how eager our States Members were to suspend and investigate those responsible on those occassions.
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Looks like we are back to doing things the ‘Jersey Way’! I heard Graham Power speak on Radio Jersey this morning and could feel the hurt and anger in his voice whilst defending himself. He rightly says that he still hasn’t had the opportuntiy to answer any of the allegations and Ian Le Marquand has delayed this again, hoping that Mr Power will forget about this whole charade when he retires shortly. He is completely innocent in all of this and has even made it known that if he had his time again, he would of ensured that the media were handled in a different way. Hindsight is a great thing. Enjoy your retirement Graham, and don’t think that all the people of Jersey are a bumbling group of establishment half wits, there are always some rotten apples wherever you live, maybe we just have more than average.
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Pretty Lady #43. There are few people who agree that Graham Power is completely innocent. He is likely to have been complcit in Lenny Harper’s mega fuax pas and must have – or at least ought to have – seen the inappropriate way the H de la G investigation was being handled.
They say that to err is to be human; Mr. Power is very human and if he is angry, he should be angry with himself and his former colleague Lenny Harper for dropping him right in it.
What is it they say? “What goes around comes around.”
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It goes something like this………… Mass child abuse surfaces in the face of two honest policemen,They vow to uncover the truth. Jersey Oligarchs hatch ‘plan A’ to conceal the truth, they offer an open cheque book to catch and expose the perpetrators but in reality its to ensnare the two ‘honest cops’ and divert attention away from the real crime.
It reads like an open book…. a very sad and depraved one at that.
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