Deputy Gavin St Pier and his wife arrested on suspicion of harassment
- Deputy Gavin St Pier and his wife Jane were arrested on suspicion of harassment on Wednesday 3 December.
- He described it as a “shocking allegation” which they “completely refute”.
- Deputy St Pier has led a public campaign spanning more than three years over how families are treated by the heath services. His own concerns date back to 2015.
- Couple interviewed under caution and released without charge.
- Policy & Resources Committee to discuss its response.
Deputy Gavin St Pier and his wife Jane are being investigated by police after allegations of harassment.
He said that the interviews do not relate to “any material information” that is not already in the public domain.
They refute the allegation.
In April 2022, Deputy St Pier first went public and used parliamentary privilege to name the MSG’s Dr Sandie Bohin during a States debate where he said that his family was subject to a safeguarding investigation after complaining about one of their daughter’s medical care in 2015.
Two and a half years later, after an appeal, he was formally reprimanded for breaching the States members’ code of conduct during that speech.
He has continued to campaign on behalf of families, but faced another States debate on his conduct last month.
This time members rejected a recommended 25 day suspension which followed an investigation into whether he broke the new code of conduct during a phone call with a national journalist where he discussed safeguarding concerns and Dr Bohin.
“My wife and I are the subjects of an investigation following a complaint of harassment," said Deputy St Pier in a written statement released on 4 December.
“This is a shocking allegation which we completely refute. We were arrested on 3 December, just six days after my exoneration by the States of Deliberation when the Assembly voted overwhelmingly to reject my proposed suspension in respect of an earlier complaint.
“We have stated unequivocally that we deny any wrongdoing whatsoever. Following interviews under caution, we were released without charge. The interviews did not refer to any material information that is not already in the public domain.
“This week we naively imagined that we could finally move on with our lives after nearly four years of complaints being lodged against me.
“We are hopeful that this will be the end of the matter. As I said in closing my speech last week, I will continue to represent the interests of those who wish me to do so and to press for systematic and cultural change in our healthcare system.”
The Quarry
Deputy St Per is the vice president of Policy & Resources.
President Lindsay de Sausmarez confirmed that it had been informed that Deputy St Pier was arrested on Wednesday morning on suspicion of harassment.
“We will consider it at the earliest opportunity and will provide an update once we have done so. Please bear with us in the meantime.”
Deputy St Pier has argued for an independent review of the complaints system at Health & Social Care and the MSG.
22 States members voted against the motion to suspend him, with 11 in favour. There were five abstentions.
After the vote, The Commissioner for Standards for Guernsey Melissa McCullough resigned.
“Where an Assembly decides not to suspend despite two independent commissioners' recommendations, this can signal to the public that the Assembly is unwilling to enforce consequences and ensure accountability," she said.
She initially recommended a 30-day suspension, which was reduced to 25 days by the Guernsey Appeals Commissioner.
In her report, she had said: “Evidence shows a deliberate and sustained effort to unfairly criticise, to discredit, and to cause harm to Dr Bohin’s professional and personal reputation.
"In my view, this pattern of behaviour fits squarely within the established definition of bullying and is entirely inconsistent with the values of respect, fairness and accountability expected of members.”
Her resignation triggered the States’ Assembly & Constitution Committee to announce a focused review of the Members’ Code of Conduct.
In the meantime, it will look for an interim appointment for the Commissioner for Standards role.
The Committee is prioritising the appointment process and invites expressions of interest from qualified individuals by 12th December.
Comments ()