'Savings could see frontline services cuts'

President Mary Lowe made the announcement in the States yesterday and also raised concerns about meeting saving targets without having a negative impact on services.

As an independent regulator, the HMIC will look at the performance, leadership and strategic direction of the island's Law Enforcement, ensuring agencies are delivering high quality services with value for money considered at all times.

'Conscious that it is 10 years since the last inspection of the police, the committee has acknowledged that the Guernsey Border Agency and Guernsey Police have subsequently been amalgamated under Law Enforcement,' Deputy Lowe said.

'It is therefore all the more important for the Bailiwick to have an independent inspection for the Bailiwick which will be invaluable for setting future priorities.'

Home Affairs has signed off savings of 3% for this year.

'But we remain concerned in respect of our ability to make further savings without negatively impacting on service provision, other than around £500,000 we intend to make in our property rationalisation projects.

'These are included in our service transformation programme, known as Host, which seeks to achieve a new operating model that will ensure sustainable and affordable future service provision.

'Work on the programme is progressing well, with a business case to rationalise our property portfolio being included for agreement by the States in the June debate.

'Given nearly £3m. has been saved by the committee in recent years, I have to be frank and say that members have yet to identify that there is scope to make further significant savings without the potential compromise of front-line services.'