Bailiwick of Guernsey

HMICFRS conducts statutory inspections of police forces and other law enforcement agencies in England and Wales. We also inspect law enforcement arrangements in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies on invitation from the relevant Government.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a Crown Dependency comprising the islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Brecqhou, Jethou and Lihou, as well as a number of uninhabited islets. It covers an area of just over 63 square kilometres. Guernsey’s Government is called the States of Guernsey, subsequently referred to as ‘the States’.

Reports

In 2017, the Bailiwick of Guernsey’s Committee for Home Affairs invited HMICFRS to inspect the policing and border control arrangements. These are provided by two separate but closely connected organisations, which are collectively known as ‘Bailiwick Law Enforcement’ (BLE).

The two organisations which comprise BLE are:

• Guernsey Police; and
• Guernsey Border Agency.

They are distinct organisations but since 2013 have operated under a single head and a shared senior management team.

Our terms of reference for this inspection were wide-ranging. They amounted to an examination of most aspects of BLE’s operations and the context in which they take place.

Generally, the Bailiwick of Guernsey’s population is served very well by its police force and border agency. BLE has much to be proud of, and there are many areas of work which impressed us particularly.

There are also areas where there is scope for improvement, and some where we have made specific recommendations. Our report identifies 26 areas for improvement and makes eight recommendations.

Read the report

Bailiwick of Guernsey Law Enforcement: An inspection of the capability and capacity of Guernsey Police and Guernsey Border Agency – November 2018