Royal pardon one option to clear Occupation police

In the early 1940s food was rationed and in short supply. Against this backdrop, a number of Guernsey Police officers admitted stealing food, drink and fuel from stores and were convicted in the Royal Court and by a German military tribunal.

But it has been alleged that the men were assaulted violently until they gave confessions.

An appeal in 1955 against the Royal Court case to have the convictions quashed was rejected and an attempt to get the case reopened was refused earlier this year. The high profile of the case has brought it back into the public eye and could see action taken.

Policy & Resources member Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said he had raised the issue with the committee and he hoped it could help, now the appeal had been rejected.

‘I think it is worthwhile looking at whether we can do something political,’ he said.

‘One area might be the Royal Court, but it may also be possible to look to appeal to the Queen in person.’

He said another option was to get local law officers to look at the case, once their workload from Brexit had eased.

‘I think this is an important issue,’ he said.

The charges relate to two cases – one before a German military tribunal in April 1942, which saw 17 officers convicted, and a Royal Court case, which saw nine of those officers again convicted of further crimes.

It is not possible to appeal the tribunal hearing, but it is hoped something could be done about the Royal Court case.

Cambridge University lecturer Dr Gilly Carr, who has written extensively on the Occupation, has been championing the officers’ case.

She said she was surprised and disappointed that the request to appeal had been rejected, but she had been given hope that some States members might try to help.

‘I hope now something will happen,’ she said.

‘It’s gone to the highest appeal court in the UK and been refused. And to be honest the court did not understand what this was about.’

She was worried that this might seem like very ‘small fry’ to the high courts and not appreciate the impact still felt by families locally.

‘Of course it is still relevant,’ she said.

She was hopeful something could be done, but was cautious about offering too much hope, after families enduring 75 years of disappointment.

While this means there might be a chance to help the officers convicted in Royal Court in June 1942, it seemed unlikely they would be able to do anything in relation to the military tribunal case from April 1942.

‘After the war, the Nazi court ceased to exist and so its sentences were rendered null and void,’ she said.

‘However, this is different to receiving a pardon, even if only in the way that the individuals concerned felt. To my mind, a posthumous pardon for all of the men is the most appropriate way forward – and for fairness to all concerned.’

Even though the Nazi court sentences were voided, the cases still had a long impact on the men, who were unable to work again as police officers and often faced stigma in the island.

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