The policeman returned to work recently after the Law Officers decided not to prosecute over incidents alleged to have taken place when he was about 12 years old.
Robert Curgenven has now asked the Home Affairs Committee to intervene in a way which would lead to chief officer of police Damian Kitchen dismissing the policeman.
‘I am sure that Damian’s hands are tied due to our antiquated laws covering matters like this, which is why I asked you whether the committee would consider giving more power to the chief officer to dismiss staff,’ said Deputy Curgenven in an email to Home Affairs president Marc Leadbeater.
‘In any case, I politely and formally request the committee to step in and remove this officer from the force.’
Mr Kitchen issued a statement to the Guernsey Press late yesterday in which he refuted any suggestion that he was unhappy with the officer returning to work and dismissed the request for him to have more powers to fire staff.
The policeman was arrested, questioned and suspended in the summer. The authorities have not disclosed his identity or the nature of his work in the police. They said his age at the time of the alleged offences, which were many years before he joined the police, was ‘a relevant factor’ in the decision not to prosecute, but that his job was not.
In his email, which the Guernsey Press has obtained, Deputy Curgenven claimed the policeman’s return to work was ‘a huge blow to confidence in policing’ in the island.
‘I have been contacted by sexual assault victims who are now refusing to contact the police,’ he said.
A day earlier, Deputy Curgenven had asked Deputy Leadbeater how he thought the case being dropped by the Law Officers and the policeman’s return to work would affect public perception of the force.
‘I don’t know, but my guess is that some folk will be outraged, and others will accept the decision of the Law Officers and the external lawyers,’ said Deputy Leadbeater in reply.
‘Obviously, the committee is never sighted on individual case details, so it’s not possible for us to form an informed opinion.’
‘I support officer’s return to work’
Statement issued by police chief Damian Kitchen following Deputy Curgenven’s request to the Home Affairs Committee to dismiss an unnamed policeman:
‘The joint statement issued from the Law Officers and police regarding this matter is a matter of public record and I will not repeat it here.
However, I am aware that a narrative is emerging that I was unhappy with the charging decision and decision not to proceed with misconduct. This is categorically untrue.
I am content that the rationale, legal position and public interest issues were thoroughly considered and that the decisions were sound.
I will also place on record that I seek no more powers to dismiss officers and I am content that the legal framework and contractual positions available to me are sufficient to deliver a professional and effective police service.
In the circumstance in question, I can say categorically, and as someone in possession of the complex facts and context of this case, that I support the return to work of the officer, and I trust he will continue to serve the public.
Equally, I have today reached out to a person who knows the family of the alleged victim and I have offered personally to meet with them to privately discuss any concerns and ongoing support available.
I will not discuss the matter further and ask those not in possession of the full facts, but rather basing their views on partial truths, to reflect on their behaviour.’