The crisis in police recruitment in Guernsey has led to a call for an overhaul of pay and conditions. The Minister for the Home Department, Deputy Mike Torode, says competition from the finance industry is the biggest obstacle facing recruitment.
A full strength force would consist of 179 officers, there are currently 149, a shortfall of 30.
Deputy Torode says this is putting a strain on officers, with many of them having to work double shifts.
'Long hours'
The basic level of pay for members of the Guernsey force is set by the Police Federation in the UK, but Deputy Torode is pushing for a thorough review and looking at the possibility of making a special case for the Bailiwick.
He would like a new pay and conditions package for Guernsey police to be considered.
He said: ""The stark facts are that police officers work very hard.
"They work long, arduous hours and they are not as well remunerated as some people in the community.
"When we have recruitment drives, the majority of the more mature applicants feel they cannot take the salary drop from their existing jobs - whatever those jobs might be."
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