Guernsey's Police Chief has publicly apologised after a former officer was found guilty of perverting the course of justice

Ruari Hardy says Aaron Cusack's attempt to interfere with a rape investigation ‘does not reflect the values and high standards that the community rightly demands' from the police.

In a public apology, released shortly after Cusack was found guilty by the Royal Court yesterday afternoon (7 July), the Head of Law Enforcement said his management team and himself acted as quickly as possible.

Cusack was arrested on 22 October 2021, suspended three days later, and dismissed shortly after.

In February 2022 he was charged with perverting the course of justice and three telecommunications offences for not disclosing his device passcodes when investigating officers asked.

Cusack's trial at Guernsey's Royal Court lasted five days and ultimately found him guilty.

His sentencing will take place on 25 September 2023.

Officer Hardy says he appreciates that this verdict is coming at a bad time when poor police conduct in the UK is in the news.

But he hopes the public's view of the local police won't be skewed by an individual's actions:

"I know I speak for everyone within Guernsey Police and the wider Bailiwick Law Enforcement family who are members of our community when I say I am deeply disappointed in this former officer’s actions while he was in our employment.

I would like to reassure the public and be clear, any member of our staff who does fall below the high standards we hold cannot and should not be in the position of trust within the community.

As an organisation we will always take necessary action to identify and robustly deal with such conduct."