After three weeks in charge of Bailiwick Law Enforcement, Damien Kitchen has laid out his priorities and made promises to protect and serve the community.

Damien Kitchen took over from Ruari Hardy on 1 November 2024.

He says, despite Guernsey's low rate of crime, there is plenty for him to work on.

Tackling 'quality of life issues', such as anti-social behaviour, and implementing more neighbourhood policing are some of his priorities.

But as the force draws up a three-year plan for 2025 to 2028, the Chief Officer says he wants public buy in:

"Yes we need to talk to our internal people, politicians, the Home Affairs Committee but we can't draw up a plan for the future without engaging with the public.

"I'm new to the job, but I have already had conversations with my team around finding ways to get the public viewpoint and what is important to them and use that to inform our policy service over the new few years."

The new Chief of Police has been defending Guernsey's new police complaints process.

The so-called 'filter' allows police to analyse evidence, and consider if there is merit to a complaint, before investigation.

Mr Kitchen says the old process took too many officers off duty:

"I am about public service and keeping people safe, but I can only do that if officers are on the ground and not investigating each other for complaints that are not true.

"But I will reiterate my commitment, which I have demonstrated throughout my career, that I will go in hard and robust on anyone who should not be in the police service."

He says he will work to build trust.

"When we don't come up to the mark, and that could be a genuine mistake, but we need to learn from, right up to the most serious wrongdoing and accusations of wrong doing, I will do everything to make sure that the public have full confidence that if they report anything like that I will take it, as the chief of the force, absolutely seriously."

46 people registered complaints over the way police conducted themselves in 2023.

It is a 'privilege to lead a police service in a really unique setting'

Mr Kitchen says he has made an effort to explore Guernsey since moving here - and intends to visit the rest of the Bailiwick.

"You're probably wondering why I came to Guernsey, well, it is an absolutely beautiful place to live.

"I have not got to the rest of the islands yet, I've done Herm, but I am told that Sark, Alderney and the others are all very beautiful too.

"I just saw it as an amazing privilege to lead a police service in a really unique setting."

'Committed to public service and a family man'

Chief Officer Kitchen says his family-life has influenced his policing style.

"I've been with my wife for nearly 29 years, and I have two grown up daughters.

"A lot of my values are driven by making sure the world is a good place for them.

"Particularly having daughters, I want people feeling safe going out, I want to tackle violence against women and girls. Fairness of opportunity is a big one for me as well, when I look at my workforce.

"I am really committed to having a diverse workforce and everyone feeling like they have the chance to progress - whatever the background or sex or anything - if you've got the right values, I am about rewarding hard work and commitment to public service."