Jeannie Cameron’s comments come after a spate of code of conduct findings involving both States members, and Alderney States president William Tate.
This has led some to express concern over a growing ‘code of conduct culture’ among States members in the island.
Ms Cameron said that she believed the best defence against any misuse of the complaints system would be the independence which the Commissioner for Standards brings to the process.
‘It is difficult to draw conclusions from the number of complaints alone,’ she said.
‘The code must remain available to anyone with a genuine concern, but no complaints process should be used as a political tool or as a means of intimidating members. The independent commissioner’s role is important because it provides a safeguard – complaints that do not meet the required threshold should not proceed, while those that do can be properly and impartially investigated. Whether any individual complaint is vexatious or politically motivated is a matter for the process to determine.’
Ms Cameron has found herself at the receiving end of several complaints, both under the current system and the previous one. She is in no doubt that the new regime involves stronger safeguards for all parties. ‘In my experience, there is a significant difference between the two systems,’ she said.
‘The current process is independent of Alderney and is therefore less susceptible to local influence or differing local interpretations.’
The P&F chair is also warning against reading too much into the number of complaints being lodged. She stresses that the number of code violations found to have occurred remains relatively modest.
‘I do not believe the number of complaints, by itself, demonstrates that States members are badly behaved,’ she said.
No complaint made in 2025 was found to be admissible by commissioner Melissa McCullough. She has investigated five made this year.
It is understood that more complaints under the code are currently going through the process but Ms Cameron said she was not too concerned about any possible escalation.
‘The number of complaints may increase, but the greater concern would be any failure to respect the independent process and its conclusions.
‘The principle is straightforward – the code and the law must apply consistently to every member.
‘Members have access to an appeal process if they believe a decision is wrong, and to my knowledge, no appeals have been made to the commissioner’s findings.’
At a recent People’s Meeting in the island, traditionally held in advance of a States meeting, it was suggested that there should be a financial penalty for vexatious complaints, but Ms Cameron said she would be concerned that might deter some with genuine grievances.