States of Guernsey Police Service

States of Guernsey Police Service
Common name	Guernsey Police
Abbreviation	GYPD
Guernsey Police Logo (as at 2016)
Agency overview
Formed	1915
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction*	Police area of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, GBG
Map of States of Guernsey Police Service's jurisdiction.
Size	78 km²
Population	Approx 67,500
General nature	Law enforcement Civilian agency
Operational structure
Headquarters	Hospital Lane, St Peter Port
Sworn members	147
Agency executive	Patrick Rice, Chief Officer
Facilities
Stations	2
Website
www.guernsey.police.uk
Footnotes
* Police area agency: Prescribed geographic area in the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The States of Guernsey Police Service, known generally as the Guernsey Police, is the Police service for the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a jurisdictional sub-group of Crown Dependencies within the Channel Islands.

The Service's enforcement jurisdiction extends across the entire Bailiwick and encompasses the Islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm, and Sark.

In common with many communities, a historical development of parish constables formed the system of law enforcement for many centuries. In the nineteenth century the people of Guernsey complained that this system was inadequate for a growing population, and a professional police force was demanded. The parish constables retained their historic role, but from 1853 uniformed 'Assistant Constables' were appointed. Initially there were four of them, with a uniform hat and belt worn over their civilian clothing. They provided full-time policing, under the authority of the elected parish constables. The current police force was formed following approval by the States of Deliberation in March 1915, consisting of an inspector, two sergeants, two corporals and eleven constables. During the five year German occupation of the Channel Islands the Police had a difficult time whilst working alongside the German military police and the Feldgendarmerie (Field Police). In 1945 the force resumed its normal role and is now considerably expanded, as of 2015 it had 147 Officers. These are supported by 79 civilian staff, who work in roles where warranted Officers are not required.

The force is headed by a Chief Officer (CO), with a Deputy Chief Officer (DCO) as second in command and a Superintendent as third in command. The current Chief Officer of the Guernsey Police is Patrick Rice. The current Deputy Chief Officer is Nigel Taylor and the current Superintendent is Ruari Hardy. Each of the four branches within the Guernsey Police is headed by a Chief Inspector; the branches are Uniformed Operations, Crime Services, Corporate Services and Specialist Services. Significant units within these four divisions include the commercial fraud department, the explosive ordinance disposal unit and the Police dog section.