States to have the chance to consider treatment of Occupation police officers

The issue has been highlighted in recent months by publicity about the conviction of some police officers for stealing.

Families of the officers and Occupation historian Dr Gilly Carr have been campaigning for the issue to be looked into.

Historic legal matters dating back to this period are complex and some issues have already been considered by the Bailiwick’s highest appeal court, so finding a resolution is not straightforward.

However, the committee is developing proposals to address the issue.

Policy & Resources member Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq has taken a particular interest in the matter.

‘I feel very strongly that we must find a way to recognise publicly cases where islanders who were put through the judicial system during the Occupation faced injustice in process, sentencing or both,’ he said.

‘Many people today consider that they were wrongly punished and their reputations wrongly tarnished for the rest of their lives and some were caused physical harm.

‘I’m grateful to the families of the police officers who have recently shone a light on this part of our Occupation history.

‘It doesn’t matter that decades have passed: for those families, and for many other islanders, the passage of time does not undo the wrongs that took place and if there is still an opportunity to right them in some way, we should make every effort to do that.’

In 1942, 17 police officers were convicted by a German military tribunal of stealing from Nazi stores. Eight of these officers were also convicted by the Royal Court.

Many of them were punished with imprisonment and hard labour.