A CONSTABLE has expressed his frustration at the theft of election banners from an area of his parish which was set aside for candidates to promote themselves to voters.
Mike Jackson made the comments after banners were removed from temporary railings that had been placed at Mont Les Vaux in St Brelade.
Mr Jackson, who is standing for re-election as St Brelade Constable, said that with nine candidates for the parish’s four Deputy seats, it had been decided to offer the opportunity to use the parish-owned site next to the road for banners.
He said: ‘It’s very frustrating when election materials are targeted like this – I understand that some people feel disaffected but I don’t know what they think they can achieve by damaging or stealing banners.
‘In the absence of any evidence or someone getting caught in the act, it’s very hard to take action, it just seems to be an unfortunate aspect of the election campaign.’
Jonathan Renouf, one of the candidates whose banner was removed, said he did not intend to replace it.
He said: ‘It’s not realistic to go on spending money on new materials, so it’s likely to be a case of just shrugging my shoulders and rotating some of my other posters and banners around different sites over the next few weeks.’
Mr Renouf is standing against Steve Bailey and Senator Steve Pallett of the Progress Party, Nigel Jones and Deputy Montfort Tadier of Reform Jersey, James Corbett of Jersey Alliance and independents Helen Miles, Moz Scott and Karl Busch.
A number of election candidates across the Island have reported their posters being vandalised. And there has also been criticism on social media of candidates breaching regulations about where campaign posters could legally be put up.
