Suspension affects town policing

Graham Power has consistently denied any wrongdoing

The cost of the suspension of Jersey's chief officer of police has had a negative effect on policing in St Helier, the parish constable has said.

Graham Power was suspended in November 2008 over allegations about his handling of the historic abuse inquiry.

Simon Crowcroft said St Helier had been denied the policing of several officers because of the money Home Affairs had spent on the suspension.

He said there were better ways than suspension to investigate allegations.

Mr Crowcroft, who supported Mr Power at a complaints hearing relating to the suspension, said the States should think more carefully before suspending members of staff.

"There are perfectly good ways of investigating the kind of complaints that this was without taking the person out of work," he told BBC Jersey.

Disclosure of information

Recently Jersey's chief minister was asked by a complaints board to reconsider his decision not to disclose certain information to Mr Power.

Crowcroft says the cost of suspending Graham Power was avoidable

Mr Power had asked under the Code of Practice on Freedom of Information to see the date three letters relating to his suspension were created.

The chief ministers representatives had argued that the information was exempt from disclosure.

But the complaint's board found that no exemptions applied to it.

The chief minister said he accepted the findings and will release the information to Mr Power as soon as possible.