Witness Protocol

Information for Witnesses appearing before   Scrutiny Panels

 

General information     Before the meeting                On the day

After the meeting                   Contact details

 

Introduction

 

This factfile provides background information to assist you with procedures for giving evidence to a Scrutiny Panel of the States of Jersey. Having read this information, if you have any further queries, the Scrutiny Officers will be pleased to help. The Scrutiny Office contact details are included as a footnote to this factfile.

 

General Information

 

§         The proceedings of the Panel are covered by parliamentary privilege through Article 34 of the States of Jersey Law 2005 and the States of Jersey (Powers, privileges and immunities) (Scrutiny Panels, PAC and PPC) (Jersey) Regulations 2006 and witnesses are protected from being sued or prosecuted for anything said during hearings unless they say something that they know to be untrue. This protection is given to witnesses to ensure that they can speak freely and openly to the Panel when giving evidence without fear of legal action although the immunity should obviously not be abused by making unsubstantiated statements about third parties who have no right of reply. The Panel would like you to bear this in mind when answering questions.

 

§         Scrutiny Panels can agree to hear evidence in private if it is confidential or if it contains private or personal information.  If you believe that the evidence you will give falls into this category you should raise this with the Scrutiny Officers before the hearing.

 

§         Before being invited to attend the public meeting, you may have submitted written documentation. Copies of this will be circulated to Panel members. You should bring a copy of your written evidence with you.

 

§         Should you wish to provide the Panel with supplementary evidence at the hearing, this must be submitted in writing to the Panel at least 24hours prior to the hearing in order to give the Panel the opportunity to consider the additional evidence.

 

§         Introductory statements from witnesses will not be permitted unless the Panel decides otherwise.

 

§         All written and/or oral evidence will be released into the public domain and as such will be available to the press and published on the Scrutiny Website. It may be included in the final report, either in part or in its entirety, at the discretion of the Panel. Should you object to any submission being released into the public arena you will be required to make that request clearly and in writing.

 

§         There is a ramp access from outside the entrance to the States Chamber to the main door of the States Building. Thereafter there is full disabled access to the Committee rooms. However, should you wish for assistance this is available from one of the ushers.

 

§         Anyone accompanying you to assist you, other than a named witness, should contact the Scrutiny Office prior to the hearing.

 

Before the meeting

 

§         A Scrutiny Officer will provide you with information about the time and venue and give you information about the background to the invitation.

 

§         A Scrutiny Officer will also be available in advance to discuss the format of the hearing and the probable areas of questioning but may not be able to inform you of specific questions.

 

§         If taking evidence from organisations, Panels may wish to hear from a representative of those organisations. This will be left to your discretion. Full names and job titles must be supplied to the Scrutiny Office at least one week in advance.

 

 

 

On arrival at the meeting

 

§         Most meetings take place in the States Building, Royal Square, St. Helier.

 

§         On arrival, reception staff will show you to the waiting area. One of the Scrutiny Officers will normally meet you in the waiting area and answer any queries you may have.

 

§         You may sit in on other public hearings when not giving evidence if you wish and listen to other evidence being given.

 

At the meeting

 

§         Each Scrutiny Panel has a Chairman who is in charge of the meeting and will call members of the Panel and witnesses to speak.

 

§         All the members will have nameplates in front of them and can be addressed as Chairman, Senator, Deputy or Connétable accordingly.

 

§         The proceedings are recorded and the microphone in front of you is operated automatically.

 

§         You may be given the opportunity to make a brief opening statement; however, this will depend on the manner in which the Panel wishes to conduct its business.

 

§         The Panel members will have a copy of your previously submitted written evidence - there is no need to repeat this by way of a statement.

 

§         The Scrutiny Officer will sit next to the Chairman during the meeting and advise on procedure.

 

 

§         As it is a public meeting, (unless the Panel has agreed to meet in private) the media have the right to attend but will not interfere in the proceedings in any way.

 

§         Anyone accompanying you in an official capacity may pass you notes if necessary.

 

After the meeting

 

 

§         If you have offered to send follow-up information, please forward this to the Scrutiny Office within seven days from the date of giving evidence. In exceptional cases, this might be extended.

 

§         A witness feedback form will be sent to you on your experience of giving evidence. It will be extremely helpful if you complete this in order to help the Scrutiny Panels improve their procedures. This will be confidential.

 

§         As soon as the final report is ready for publication, you will be forwarded a copy for your information. The timing of the availability of the report will be dependent on the depth and scope of the inquiry.

 

Contact Details

 

Scrutiny Office:  

 

§         Tel:                        441080

§         Fax:                      441077

§         E-mail:      scrutiny@gov.je