Home affairs committee seeks budget increase to maintain emergency services
- Home Affairs submits three budget amendments totalling between £2.28m and £3.94m depending on budget option
- First amendment seeks funding for increased police, firefighter and prison officer numbers to maintain frontline services
- Second amendment proposes funding to protect vulnerable groups including Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Family Proceedings Advisory Service
- Third amendment aims to preserve investigative capacity in financial crime units and population management
- Committee says both Option A and Option B budgets risk compromising public safety and core statutory functions
Home Affairs has submitted three budget amendments aimed at securing additional funding for frontline emergency services, protecting vulnerable islanders, and safeguarding the island's international reputation and economy.
The amendments, submitted on 27 October 2026, represent the committee's unanimous response to what members view as inadequate funding proposals in both spending options of Policy & Resources Committee's 2027 budget.
The first amendment focuses on maintaining frontline services, proposing an uplift of £1,953,000 under Option A or £792,000 under Option B. This would fund an increase in police officer numbers, support training, increase firefighter numbers, boost prison officer numbers to cover court security requirements, and reflect the costs of running the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre.
The second amendment addresses protecting vulnerable groups, proposing an uplift of £998,000 under Option A or £699,000 under Option B. This funding would continue support for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, help frontline services and third sector partners, maintain specialist treatment programmes, and create additional capacity in the Family Proceedings Advisory Service.
The third amendment is proposing an uplift of £988,000 or £790,000. This would preserve existing investigative capacity at the Economic & Financial Crime Bureau, ensure operational resilience in the Financial Intelligence Unit, and provide funding to support recovery at the Population Management Office.
The committee says it is not seeking to expand services or embark on new initiatives. Instead, the budget uplifts would address shortfalls in staffing that have arisen due to sustained operational demand.
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, president, said the committee had worked closely with service leads in preparing its 2027 budget submission and assessing the potential implications of a real-terms cut in funding.
"It is because of these candid discussions that the Committee determined that the only responsible option was to pursue an amendment to the proposed budget as both Option A and Option B had the potential to impact on public safety and economic security," he said.
"We are not oblivious to the current state of public finances, nor the financial pressure facing the States, and so we have not taken the decision to submit these amendments lightly. All of these services are critical to the Bailiwick."
Deputy Leadbeater added: "The core purpose of Home Affairs is to keep the community safe. We decided on this approach as it provided an opportunity to clearly identify how our services were already under considerable pressure to respond to increased demand and the real risk to the public if they are not resourced to respond to that demand and the challenges of a modern society."
The committee acknowledged the challenging fiscal environment facing the States and the importance of sustainable, efficient services representing value for money. However, members unanimously concluded that the proposed budget would negatively impact service delivery, compromise core statutory functions, and potentially place the community at risk.
Each amendment addresses statutory and structural pressures across the committee's mandate which can no longer be absorbed within existing resources but are deemed critical in ensuring the island continues to remain a safe and secure place.
Q&A
Q: How much additional funding is the Committee for Home Affairs seeking?
A: The committee has submitted three amendments seeking between £2.28 million (under Option B) and £3.94 million (under Option A) in additional funding across frontline services, vulnerable groups protection, and economic security measures.
Q: What services would benefit from the frontline services amendment?
A: The amendment would fund increased police officer numbers, essential training for complex crimes, additional firefighters to maintain safe operations, more prison officers for court security requirements, and proper funding for the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre.
Q: Why is the committee proposing these amendments?
A: The committee believes both Option A and Option B of the 2027 budget will negatively impact service delivery, compromise core statutory functions, and potentially place the community at risk. The amendments address serious staffing shortfalls in critical areas due to sustained operational demand.
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