Break-ins stun residents

MOST readers of this newspaper will know that the sort of lawlessness that often appears endemic in larger communities seems to have spread to Sark.

A series of break-ins at the end of last week – all of which, as I understand it, were at business rather than domestic premises – has left island residents worried, saddened and stunned.

Sark constable Matt Joyner, who this month ends his two-year stint as one of Sark's two honorary police officers, has called in the Guernsey Police and effectively they have taken over the investigation.

Sark has a deserved reputation for being relatively crime-free. Indeed, people here go to considerable lengths to ensure that visitors are reunited with often valuable items of lost property – something which is always much appreciated by the island's guests.

There is little doubt in the minds of many that drink plays a part in whatever crimes are committed in Sark and this certainly includes the sort of random and often unprovoked assaults which, sadly, are becoming less of a rarity than they used to be.

Apologists for the assailants often seek to excuse offenders by saying things like 'it was the drink which did that'. My own experience – which includes almost a decade as a police officer, an equal amount of time on the States of Jersey Crime Prevention Panel and very many years of listening to court cases from the Press benches – suggests otherwise.

The reality is that it is always the drunk – never the drink.

Hopefully, those who committed these break-ins – disturbing incidents to a community unused to them – will soon be brought to justice but invariably that needs the community to help the police. Someone close to the offenders knows something and that information should be imparted to the police – even anonymously through Crimestoppers (on 0800 555 111) – without delay.

The other principal topic of conversation here has been the acquisition by Sark Shipping of the Bournemouth Belle – the vessel which the company has been using for the last few weeks while the Bon Marin has been out of action.

Renamed the Sark Belle – but likely to be dubbed the Belle before too long – the new purchase can bring up to 180 passengers at a time, a considerable hike on the capacity of both the Bon Marin and the Sark Venture.

This being a community which, despite all its virtues – and they far outweigh the negatives – has more experts and world authorities on matters as varied as wine production and crime, bee keeping and shipping, I suppose it was inevitable that some would be swift to condemn Sark Shipping for their decision to buy the vessel.

One of the big moans was that the decision didn't go to Chief Pleas for approval. Sticking my head above the parapet, I for one am delighted that it didn't. Political interference is something which has bedevilled Sark Shipping for years and if this decision is a demonstration that it's over, then that's great.

I've certainly more faith in shipping directors Julie Mann and Colin Smith to decide what is best for the company than I have in the collective wisdom of two dozen and more politicians. The smaller the decision-making body, the more effective the decisions is generally a good rule.

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Visitors on Wednesday were given a surprise and an opportunity to laugh when they arrived at the top of Harbour Hill as most of the carriage drivers waiting to greet them were in fancy dress. It was very much a case of Danny Wakley and others as you've never seen them before.

The effort was in aid of the Sark Emergency Services and no doubt the collecting tins were being rattled right around the island as the carriages progressed.

* The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net

Di Lihou

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MOST readers of this newspaper will know that the sort of lawlessness that often appears endemic in larger communities seems to have spread to Sark. A series of break-ins at the end of last week all of which, as I understand it, were at business rather

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