Acting deputy police chief James Wileman is the most senior ranking officer in the States police after he was promoted from Superintendent in August.
The late police chief, Rob Bastable, died after a battle with cancer last July. Julian Blazeby, the current director general for Justice and Home Affairs, was brought to the Island in 2017 as acting deputy chief officer. He stood in as chief for four weeks while Mr Bastable was ill before leaving the force and taking up his role as a civil servant.
Former police chief Mike Bowron, who was in the top job for six years from 2011, retired in 2017.
A spokeswoman for the Justice and Home Affairs Department said: ‘Recruitment is in progress and will be advertised in the coming weeks. The recruitment process is being overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission, as an independent body, to ensure that the process is fair, efficient and conducted in accordance with best practice and procedures, in line with all senior appointments.’
Plans had been proposed to scrap the role of police chief and replace it with a ‘head of law and border enforcement’. However, an amendment to that proposition was lodged to ensure a dedicated States police chief and head of Customs were maintained, with the roles kept independent. The amended proposition passed by 28 votes to 14.
The Justice and Home Affairs spokeswoman added: ‘Following the appointment of the chief of police, a decision will be made in conjunction with the chief of police, chair of the JPA [Jersey Police Association] and the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the recruitment and appointment of the deputy chief of police, within the timeframe of P.24.’
