Marcus Vaudin on the Dropped Charge Against a Serving Police Officer
“This outcome will unsettle people — and that reaction is understandable. When allegations of sexual offences surface, especially involving children, the public expects absolute clarity and absolute independence.”
Marcus’s Statement
“The decision to drop this charge must be respected, because the rule of law matters. Prosecutorial decisions are not popularity contests, and age at the time of the alleged offence is a legally relevant factor whether people are comfortable with it or not.
But respecting the decision does not mean suspending scrutiny.”
He said the case exposed three hard truths Guernsey must confront.
1. Transparency Must Be Real, Not Procedural
“We are told the guidance was followed, the evidence reviewed internally and externally, and the right tests applied. That’s the minimum — not the reassurance.
When policing investigates policing, the public needs more than process. It needs visibility. Clear explanations, published reasoning where legally possible, and confidence that independence is not just claimed but demonstrated.”
2. Safeguarding Trust Matters as Much as Legal Outcome
“Lifting a suspension immediately after a charge is dropped may be legally correct, but public confidence does not switch on and off like a light.
Trust has to be rebuilt deliberately — through openness, independent oversight, and clear separation between legal decisions and institutional self-protection.”
3. Victims Must Never Be Discouraged
“I support the call for victims of sexual offences to come forward. But that call rings hollow if people believe cases will quietly dissolve without public understanding of why.
Encouragement must be matched with accountability — otherwise silence wins.”
What Marcus Is Calling For
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Independent civilian oversight of misconduct processes involving police officers
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Public reporting standards explaining outcomes in sensitive cases, without compromising privacy
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Clear separation between criminal decisions and internal disciplinary culture
Final Word
“No one should be punished without evidence, and no one should be protected by uniform or institution.
Justice must be done — and just as importantly, it must be seen to be done. Anything less corrodes trust, even when the law has been followed.”
— Marcus Vaudin
Deputy, States of Deliberation
#Accountability #JusticeAndTrust
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