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Why is there an Honorary Police Force in each Parish? | Honorary Police
Comité des Chefs de Police | Legal Aid | The Parish Hall Enquiry
Parish Hall Telephone Numbers | Parking Fines

Honorary Police

Why is there an Honorary Police force in each Parish?

Honorary Police officers have, for centuries, been elected by parishioners to assist the Connétable of the Parish to maintain law and order. Officers are elected as Centeniers, Vingteniers or Constable's Officers each with various duties and responsibilities [see below]. The Honorary Police provided the only law enforcement prior to the appointment of paid Police officers for the Parish of St Helier in 1853 and later to serve the whole Island. The Honorary Police still provide an essential and very valuable service to the Parish and community in which we live.

Honorary Police

Each Parish elects a number of Centeniers, Vingteniers and Constable's Officers who act in the name of the Connétable of the Parish in maintaining law and order. These officers are elected for a period of three years and take an oath in the Royal Court.

All Honorary Police officers must live in the Parish at the time of their first election or, in the case of St Helier, be a ratepayer or mandataire of that Parish. If an officer moves out of the Parish during her/his term of office, s/he may continue her/his term of office with the approval of H M Attorney General and the Connétable of the Parish and may stand for re-election provided there is no break in service.

A person may be nominated for election as a member of the Honorary Police if, on the day of nomination, s/he is at least 20 years of age and less than 70 years of age.

Honorary Police officers are on duty for one week at a time, usually every 3 or 4 weeks depending upon the roster within the Parish, and are on call 24 hours a day during that period. Honorary Police officers are elected to serve the Parish but in certain circumstances may assist or operate outside the Parish.

Centeniers - are elected at a public election within the Parish. In addition to general policing matters, the Centenier in Jersey remains the only officer entitled to charge and bail offenders. The Centenier presides at Parish Hall Enquiries (see below) and acts as Prosecuting Officer before the Magistrate’s Court.

Vingteniers - are elected by the Parish Assembly to serve a Vingtaine in that Parish [or to a Cueillette in St Ouen]. Vingteniers do not have to live within that Vingtaine [or Cueillette]. In addition to general policing matters, the Vingtenier undertakes certain financial duties for the Parish, including assisting with the Visite du Branchage, although in practice the exact nature of these duties may vary from Parish to Parish.

Constables Officers - the Parish Assembly elects officers to a Vingtaine in that Parish [or to a Cueillette in St Ouen]. Constables Officers do not have to live within that Vingtaine [or Cueillette]. They assist the Centeniers and Vingteniers of the Parish with general policing matters.

Centeniers, Vingteniers and Constables Officers are members of the Honorary Police Association. Persons interested in learning more about the role of the Honorary Police, or who may wish to serve as a member of the Honorary Police, should in the first instance contact the Connétable of their Parish who will give them further information and explain the process of nomination and election. Anyone standing for election as a member of the Honorary Police will have to undergo a criminal record check.

Comité des Chefs de Police

A Chef de Police is appointed in each Parish from the Centeniers of that Parish and is responsible to the Connétable for the operational policing of the Parish. The Chef de Police of every Parish is a member of the Comité des Chefs de Police and it is the role of the Comité to seek to strengthen and uphold the Honorary Police by fostering and maintaining the unity of its members; oversee the management of resources made available to the Honorary Police; co-ordinate the provision of advice and guidance to members of the Honorary Police; promote consistency in operational practice between the Honorary Police of each parish; and foster continued co-operation with the States of Jersey Police Force and other agencies..

Legal Aid

Please visit www.cab.org.je to find out more.

The Parish Hall Enquiry

The Parish Hall Enquiry allows a Centenier to investigate a reported incident to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify a charge and if so whether the public interest requires a prosecution or whether the matter can be dealt with in some other way at the Enquiry.

The Centenier is empowered by law, to-

1. take no further action where a case is unsubstantiated,
2. dismiss or issue advice where the offence is minor,
3. issue a formal caution where a minor offence is admitted,
4. impose a fine in specified cases where an offence is admitted,
5. charge a person with an offence for trial at the Magistrate's Court where

a. the offence is not admitted but the Centenier believes that there is a case to answer, or

b. the offence is admitted, but the nature of the offence or the offender’s record makes it unsuitable for disposal at the Parish Hall Enquiry.

Q. Do I have to attend an enquiry?
A. YES, if you have been bailed to attend a Parish Hall Enquiry. If you have been requested to attend then, NO you do not have to attend but the Centenier may decide to summons you to attend Court.

Q. May I bring a friend or lawyer with me?
A. A Centenier may admit anyone to an enquiry and will not normally exclude anyone with a bona fide interest.

Q. Must I accept the Centenier's decision?
A. The Centenier may only issue a CAUTION or FINE if you admit the offence and accept the proposed penalty. You may, at any time, choose to go before the Magistrate's Court.

Q. Is there a complaints procedure?
A. YES. If you have a complaint you should obtain a form which is available at the Parish Hall or Police Station, and follow the procedure set out.

PARISH HALL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Grouville 852225
St Brelade 741701
St Clement 854724
St Helier 811811
St John 861999
St Lawrence 861672
St Martin 853951
St Mary 482700
St Ouen 481619
St Peter 481236
St Saviour 735864
Trinity 865345

Duty Centeniers may be contacted through Police Headquarters on 612612.

Parking fines

How do I dispute a parking fine?

If you wish to dispute a parking fine you may attend a Parish Hall Enquiry and speak to the Duty Centenier who may decide to reduce or remit the fine depending upon the circumstances.

I have received a summons to appear in Court for a parking infraction, what action can I take?

If you have received a summons and wish to pay the fine you must pay the amount of the fine to the Parish Hall [for public car parks administered by the Public Services Committee the fine should be paid to the Parking Control Office, Sand Street car park, St Helier] before the date you have been summonsed to appear in Court.

If you wish to query the circumstances of the parking infraction you may attend a Parish Hall Enquiry and speak to the Duty Centenier [to arrange an appointment for St Helier please telephone the Charges Office at the Town Hall tel: 811890; for other Parishes please telephone the Parish Hall].

You may wish to appear in Court to answer the charge yourself and the Magistrate, having heard the facts, will determine the case. If you are found guilty of the parking infraction the Magistrate may award costs against you and will also determine the penalty.

Please note that if you fail to pay the fine or to appear in Court when summonsed to do so the Magistrate may order your arrest, with or without an option for bail, for future attendance in Court.