Police say patrols have helped keep street violence down

A call for a move to "zero tolerance" policing in Jersey has been ruled out by the president of the Home Affairs Committee.

Senator Wendy Kinnard says such policing is not effective and Jersey does not have the resources to enforce it.

Her comments come after the Tourism Board chairman, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, said he wanted a tougher line to be taken with people who commit disorder offences in town.

The States of Jersey Police said that disorderly crimes have fallen by a third in the past year.

Concern discussions

Deputy Farnham's call for zero tolerance come from his belief that visitors feel threatened when they are in St Helier at night.

Senator Kinnard and chief police officer Graham Power say they both plan to invite Deputy Farnham to discuss his concerns.

The States of Jersey Police said: "Over the past two years, over half of all non-domestic assaults that have taken place in Jersey have taken place between 1900 and 0400 on the streets or in the pubs and clubs of St Helier.

"Given the volume of people circulating in the town centre at peak times, the existing combination of police patrols and CCTV coverage has helped keep the incidence of street violence and disorder down, but our aim is to reduce it still further."