‘On Tuesday 5 May, Guernsey Police arrested a 45-year-old woman on suspicion of harassment as part of an ongoing investigation,’ said a police spokesman.
The woman is believed to be part of a group of local families who have been campaigning alongside Deputy St Pier to overhaul how complaints in the health service are handled and for wider cultural change in healthcare.
Police confirmed the arrest today following questions from media outlets which had received a tip-off earlier in the day alleging that a large number of officers had been deployed early on Tuesday to arrest a woman who was then taken to the station for questioning.
The latest arrest follows the re-arrest last Friday of Deputy and Mrs St Pier on suspicion of misconduct in public office and another offence under the 1948 Reform Law, five months after the couple were arrested and questioned in connection with claims of harassment made by paediatrician Dr Sandie Bohin, who recently retired from the Medical Specialist Group.
Deputy and Mrs St Pier, who deny all wrongdoing, have been on bail since December. Their current bail period is believed to run until towards the end of June.
The police investigation relates to matters which previously led to findings that Deputy St Pier had broken the States members’ code of conduct.
In November, the States Assembly rejected a recommendation from its standards commissioner to suspend Deputy St Pier over a phone call with a national journalist who was preparing a story concerning complaints about Dr Bohin and local paediatric services.
Deputy St Pier is to resign as a member of the Policy & Resources Committee but intends to stand in the ensuing election later this month.
