I’ve always done my best, says retiring police chief
NEW local officers are starting their training and more police staff could be brought in from the UK, as the police force tries once again to turn around recruitment woes.
One officer set to leave shortly is Head of Bailiwick Law Enforcement Ruari Hardy, but he said yesterday, in a retirement interview, that he was hopeful staff shortages were finally easing.
There were 139 police officers employed last year, compared to 148 a decade ago and 177 in 2005.
Mr Hardy said that, while there were still ‘quite a few’ vacancies to fill across the police and Border Agency, recent retention work had been positive.
‘I’m really pleased to say we’ve got five new local police officers who have just started their training, and we also hope to bring in some staff from the UK in the near future,’ he said.
'It is of fundamental importance to us as the leadership team to get recruitment up. And we have had some success.'
He admitted that there had been more pressure on existing staff, but praised them for going ‘above and beyond’ in their duties.
‘It’s challenging when you see people leave to go and do something different, but you’ve got to respect their choice, and the people we do have do a brilliant job.’
Mr Hardy is stepping down from his role after nearly six years at the end of this month, and is being replaced by experienced UK police officer Damian Kitchen.
Reflecting on his time in charge, Mr Hardy said he had no regrets, despite some ‘challenging’ times, which recently has included recruitment issues and a series of legal proceedings brought against officers over their conduct.
‘I think I’m standing down with the feeling that I’ve always done my best,’ he said.
‘There may have been some missed opportunities and some things you would have dealt with differently, but in the round I do genuinely hope I’ve done a little bit of good as I’ve gone through my policing career.’
Mr Hardy’s leadership has been tested a number of times over the last few years, particularly when dealing with claims for damages from complainants alleging mistreatment by police officers.
He said the people involved in making the claims were in an ‘absolute minority’, and that social media and the digital age brought a new dynamic to such cases.
‘If their [the claimants’] sole intent is to continually do negativity around an organisation, I think the public sees through that,’ he said.
‘I think the level of interest in whatever campaign they’re seeking to run will run its course because the public understand that police officers have a difficult job and you can’t continually just criticise.
‘Guernsey Police is a lot stronger and has a far more important role in our society to just allow a small number of individuals to seek to undermine it.’
