Connétable (Jersey and Guernsey)

Connétables or constables (Jèrriais: Connétabl'ye) are the civic heads of the twelve parishes of Jersey and ten parishes of Guernsey. The Connétable is grounded in Norman customary law.[1] The structure, powers and responsibilities of the role differ between the islands, reflecting their different political histories.

Simon Crowcroft, Connétable of St Helier

Jersey
Monument in St Helier to Pierre Le Sueur, elected Connétable five times in the 19th century

Connétables are the heads of the twelve parishes of Jersey. The primary roles of the Connétable are as president of the Parish Assembly for non-ecclesiastical matters, representative of the parishioners in the States and head of the parish honorary police force.[1][2] In Jersey, each parish elects a Connétable at general elections to run the parish and also represent the parish in the legislature, the States Assembly.[1]

At parish-level, the constable presides over the Roads Committee, the Conseil Paroissial (except St. Helier) and parish assemblies. The twelve constables also collectively sit as the Comité des Connétables.[1][3] The constable is the titular head of the Honorary Police. With the Roads Inspectors, Roads Committee and other officers, the constable of each parish also carries out the visites du branchage twice a year.[1]

History

The origins of the Connétable are believed to be military and the position is recorded as early as 1462. The office is unique to the island, being no parallel office in England or mainland Normandy, though Victor Hugo believed the office to of English origin, perhaps a version of the English mayor.[1]

Guernsey

In Guernsey, each parish elects two constables, the senior constable and the junior constable. Persons elected generally serve a year as junior and then senior constable. The senior constable presides over the Douzaine that runs the parish. The constables are responsible for enforcing the decisions of the parish including the branchage (summer hedge-cutting).

Sark

In Sark, the connétable (or constable) is the senior of two police officers and police administrator and the vingtenier is the junior police officer.

See also

References
  1. Kelleher, John D. (1991). The rural community in nineteenth century Jersey (Thesis). S.l.: typescript.
  2. Amy, Malcolm L (22 March 2011). "The Honorary Police of Jersey" (PDF). Institute of Law Jersey. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  3. "Comité des Connétables". States Assembly. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.