Privatisation of some police duties under consideration

Monday 24th October 2011, 2:57PM BST.

Superintendent David Oakley of the Sussex police

PRIVATE security firms could be drafted in to guard suspects in police custody to free up officers for front-line duties and save cash.

Outside contractors might also be employed to do back-room paperwork that keeps bobbies off the beat.

Establishing more partnerships with the private sector is one of several ideas currently being considered by the States force as it looks for ways to provide a more efficient and effective service.

Superintendent David Oakley, who is on a year’s secondment from Sussex police and is an expert at such strategic planning, is spearheading the major review.

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1
percy

October 24, 2011 at 3:26 pm

How can this save money. Here we go again bright ideas imported from the UK that will never work in the island

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2
James

October 24, 2011 at 3:50 pm

Let me get this right, How will employing more people save cash, In Jersey! Even if it is from an outside force!

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3
horrorscope

October 24, 2011 at 4:11 pm

how about reducing the number of patrol cars so they have to walk the beat instead ?

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4
TheMoaningOldBugger

October 24, 2011 at 4:56 pm

and about time too……….when will the jobs be advertised

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5
Bean About A Bit

October 24, 2011 at 5:22 pm

I can’t believe that people don’t see the sense in this.

The hourly rate for a security guard from a private firm cost far less that having to pay a police officer on double time (overtime) because there isn’t enough bodies on the beat due to other tasks.

Therefore saving money. Good grief. It’s not rocket science and I am amazed that this isn’t being done already.

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6
Huw Janus

October 24, 2011 at 6:56 pm

Surely the way to save costs, would be to cut down on the amount of bureaucracy so you don’t need so many bureaucrats.

Also how about cutting down on the high number of senior officers? The States of Jersey Police are about the same size as a Division, or Basic Command Unit in a U.K.Police Force, where they would have far fewer ‘brass hats’.

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7
PJG

October 24, 2011 at 8:52 pm

What a good idea
Let’s get rid of the honorary police and pay some security trained thug to do the job for an exorbitant amount

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8
blade

October 24, 2011 at 9:11 pm

This is another CON from the COM.

This will not save money, it will only put money into private individuals pockets and make them rich on the back of the taxpayer again.

Ozouf must go!

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9
CJ

October 25, 2011 at 8:02 am

Sounds like a good idea on paper. But is this not giving huge responsibility to security guards and therefore a massive pay increase for that responsibility. Also with private security you are paying 2 people instead of 1 say for instance the company charge the guard out at £30 per hour and pay him £10 of that then the company make £20. Never mind I am sure some clever person has taken all that into account.

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10
ravenford

October 25, 2011 at 9:05 am

Outsourcing certain jobs to private contractors within the States Police should of been done years ago, trained officers should be out dealing with the public and not tied up doing hours of paper work and other tasks that maybe civilians could do, This does not take a “super” from the UK to tell us this, by the way who’s paying his wages, his own force or the States? I would be interested to know. I also understand that the Jersey and Guernsey Police have began joint training initiatives, now that sounds sensible, what about joining the two services together and having one “Channel Islands” Police service, maybe this could be another way of saving money? The States needs to look at itself and take stock, there’s many ways it could make and save money.

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11
Kermit

October 25, 2011 at 9:36 am

It is obviously cheaper to pay a secretary to fill paperwork than a police officer.

Their wages are at least twice more than a soldier in Afghanistan.

Hardly any car thief, bank or shop robberies, never any protests, no need for highway patrols, no Gypsy to evict, so what is it that justify such high wages: The cost of living of Jersey?

No wonder why there is many women to roll in…

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12
J Bean

October 25, 2011 at 4:12 pm

Is this another false economy from the States? Surely the security bods would need specialist training as to how to guard the crims? And if they are going to be doing all the paperwork aren’t there data protection and secrecy laws that have to be taught and abided by?

There again will David Oakley last the year or will he be off with a golden handshake in a couple of months time…

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13
raven

October 25, 2011 at 4:20 pm

This should of been instigated years ago, there could be many jobs that can be passed onto civilians within the service and it does not take a “super” from the uk to tell us this! By the way, who’s paying this guy’s wages?, the states or his own force?? Combined training initiatives between the two services is the way ahead and I think joining the Jersey and Guernsey Police into one “Channel Islands” force could also be the way forward for everyone. There are many ways that the States can save and make money and not always tax the man or woman in the street..

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14
Kermit

October 27, 2011 at 2:35 pm

Why don’t they admit that officers are paid a bit to much than what they should and now they can’t afford to pay them to do their jobs.

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