Latest news with #GuernseyVotes
ITV News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Identity of man who quoted Shakespeare to prove British citizenship remains unknown
A man who claimed he swam from France to Jersey last year is now at risk of being left in legal limbo, according to an immigration lawyer. 'David Henry Law' was rescued from Rozel Bay in late September 2024, carrying nothing but €265 in cash, a contact lens case, and a pair of glasses. Whilst he claimed he was a 35-year-old British Citizen - and quoted Shakespeare passages in an effort to prove it - he had no formal identification with him and authorities were unable to verify his identity. In March, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for knowingly entering Jersey without leave and seeking to obtain or secure the avoidance or postponement of enforcement action against him. Mr Law is up for release in September and during his trial, the Court recommended that he ultimately be deported. However, the island's Customs and Immigration Service say they have still been unable to confirm Mr Law's identity and nationality. This means there is no obvious legal pathway for deportation, as authorities do not know where to deport him to. According to Pierre Makhlouf - an immigration lawyer and Director of campaign group Bail for Immigration Detainees - Mr Law is therefore caught in a "highly unusual" legal knot. If the island were to detain Mr Law beyond the length of his sentence, they would risk breaching European human rights legislation. However, without verifying his nationality, Mr Law will be effectively stateless upon release from La Moye Prison - and therefore unable to work or apply for housing. Because he claims he is a British Citizen, he is also not eligible to claim asylum. Mr Makhlouf says this presents a difficult challenge for Jersey's authorities once the prison sentence ends, adding: "On a legal level, they're holding him in detention, so the first step is they would need to make a decision as to whether or not they would continue to detain him unlawfully. "If they can't, they're going to have to release him. "In the UK, there are specific facilities and arrangements that can be put into place to assist someone who would otherwise be homeless. "That includes asylum seekers but also other people facing removal who cannot be removed - what you have to bear in mind is if someone is placed on the streets, that is a potential breach of their human rights. "In the end, you have to support them, it's a basic level of the treatment of people that we would all expect." Speaking about the predicament, Jersey Customs and Immigration Service says it "will consider whether further action is appropriate when he is released, but will not provide comment on what will happen at the end of an individual's sentence." They add: "Enquiries remain ongoing to establish Mr Law's nationality and identity." Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
06-07-2025
- General
- ITV News
RNLI thanks Condor Voyager for helping save French yacht crew in 'challenging conditions'
The RNLI has thanked crew of the Condor Voyager for diverting its journey to save those aboard a French yacht after its skipper was taken ill eight miles off Jersey's south-west coast. Following a distress call from the skipper's daughters shortly after 6:30pm yesterday, the St Malo-bound Condor Voyager offered assistance to the RNLI team as they tackled a heavy swell and force six winds during the rescue. Condor crew launched their rescue boat and helped the RNLI provide immediate care for the skipper while also assessing an issue with the yacht's foresail. Despite being unable to transfer the stricken skipper to the RNLI's all-weather boat due to the rough sea conditions, the skipper and those on board the yacht were guided back to St Helier under a reduced sail area, arriving at around 10pm. The Condor Voyager then continued its journey to St Malo after it was decided that the yacht's skipper was well enough to travel. Gibby Gordon, Coxswain for RNLI Jersey, said: "This was a great example of multiple vessels working together to help manage a mayday situation. "We are extremely grateful to Condor Voyager and her crew who were first on scene and able to provide immediate assistance. "Our volunteer crew were able to take over and provide ongoing casualty care and help manage a successful outcome for this family." Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Gavin St Pier back on Guernsey's top political committee as vice-president
Gavin St Pier has returned to Guernsey's top political committee after being elected vice-president of Policy and Resources. Deputy St Pier formerly served as P&R president between 2016 and 2020 and will now sit alongside the new committee president Lindsay de Sausmarez. In a statement, Deputy St Pier said: "I'm very grateful to have gained the early support of my colleagues. "In this role, I look forward to serving the committee and supporting the president. "The mandate of the Policy & Resources Committee is vast, and I know from experience how challenging it is given its role in providing leadership and coordination to the work of government. "Many of the challenges faced by our island are, at this point, well-documented and it's essential that this Assembly makes significant progress in addressing them this political term." Speaking about Deputy St Pier's appointment, Deputy de Sausmarez said: "I'm delighted that Gavin has been elected Vice-President. "We have a very experienced committee, with each member bringing many strengths to the table, but Gavin's experience as a previous P&R president will be invaluable. "The whole committee is looking forward to getting on with our work and I was pleased we wasted no time by meeting on Thursday, with our next meeting scheduled for Tuesday." Guernsey's deputies decided on who will serve as presidents of the 13 political committees earlier this week. Deputy St Pier received the seventh highest number of votes in Guernsey's recent election. Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
02-07-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Plans approved for 69 homes on former CI Tyres site in Guernsey
Plans have been approved for 69 new homes in Guernsey. Two six-storey apartment buildings and a few courtyard houses will be developed on the former CI Tyres site on La Charotterie in St Peter Port. An application for 57 flats in one ten-storey block had already been granted permission but the site's owner, Guernsey Housing Association (GHA), then decided to change its application. The area will now include 60 one-bed and nine two-bed homes, with hopes that it will help address the island's housing crisis. Its Chief Operating Officer, Lisa de Kooker says: "We remain committed to progressing developments that provide high-quality, affordable homes for islanders and this scheme does just that." The plans will now go through a tender process for contractors before final approval by the GHA and Guernsey States. Construction is expected to start in early 2026 and the development could be completed by the end of 2027. The land was bought by the GHA for £1.7 million back in 2022 with initial hopes that up to 25 units could be developed by 2024. Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
02-07-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Guernsey Post announces ten redundancies as it restructures freight service
Guernsey Post will cut ten jobs as it restructures to try and make efficiency savings. From September, the company's freight subsidiary HR Air will be split, with Guernsey deliveries brought into the island's main postal operations, while HR Air's customer services and admin will move to Jersey. Guernsey Post Chief Executive Steve Sheridan says they will support all workers affected by redundancy and the HR brand continues to be an important part of the wider business. He explains: "This has been a very difficult decision, but a necessary one to respond to changing market dynamics and ensure we are operating in a way that is both efficient and sustainable. "Our priority is to support our colleagues through this transition while continuing to deliver reliable and high-quality service to our customers." The changes are part of Guernsey Post's 'business transformation programme' which started in 2023 and aims to secure the organisation's long-term future. Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
