States of Jersey Police

States of Jersey Police
Agency overview
Formed1951
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionJersey
States of Jersey Police area
Size119.4 km2 (46.1 sq mi)
Population104,200
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersSaint Helier
Sworn members306
Agency executive
  • Robin Smith, Chief Officer
Uniformed Shifts5
Facilities
Stations2
Website
www.jersey.police.je

The States of Jersey Police or States Police are a paid police force in the Bailiwick of Jersey. Alongside the unpaid Honorary Police, the States Police make up the 13 official police forces on the island, though the States Police are the only force to be paid and to operate island-wide. The States Police was established in its current form by the Police Force (Jersey) Law, 1974 and consists of around 240 officers.

This was some 130 years after the need for a full-time force was identified. A body of paid and uniformed town police was set up in Saint Helier in 1854, which became the nucleus of the Paid Police established to operate Island-wide in 1951 by the Paid Police Force (Jersey) Law. The Paid Police was renamed the States of Jersey Police in 1960.

The States of Jersey Police are the only officers with Island-wide powers and provide a professional response to all serious crimes on the Island. Under a memorandum of understanding with the twelve parish forces the latter routinely handle minor matters and traffic control, but Centeniers remain the only officers able to bring charges.

The fictional Bureau des Étrangers department of the States of Jersey Police featured in the British TV series Bergerac.