Skip to content

Guernsey prison governor John De Carteret retiring

John Fernandez Guernsey political reporter
BBC John De Carteret - A man with a bald head, and a black and grey beard looking at the camera. He's wearing a white and llight blue checked shirt, and a blue, pink, red and purple striped tie. He is standing next to some prison bars in a lonmg corridor of Guernsey's Les Nicolles prison. BBC
John De Carteret became prison governor in May 2020

Guernsey Prison's governor John De Carteret is set to retire from his role.

He stepped aside from his role in April ahead of an investigation into allegations about his conduct - the details of which have not been publicly announced.

When he launched the investigation Boley Smillie, chief executive of the States, said nobody should draw any conclusions from De Carteret's decision to stand aside while it was carried out.

Announcing his retirement Smillie said: "Guernsey Prison is undoubtedly going through a challenging period and it is very clear to me that improvements are needed in a number of areas."

He said: "Following the prison governor's decision to retire, my focus will be on supporting the Committee for Home Affairs in appointing a successor.

"I want to recognise the difficult circumstances in which colleagues at the prison have been and are currently working in, and the professionalism and commitment they continue to show in delivering this important frontline service."

No date for the retirement has been announced.

In the interim, deputy prison governor Tracey Mahy has been in charge of the island's only prison.

Officers at Guernsey prison are currently in negotiations with the States about a pay offer.

In recent weeks members of Unite the Union at the prison had worked to rule, which led to some disruption with operations.

There are currently 91 prisoners at Les Nicolles, with the majority of those in prison convicted of sexual offences.

Les Nicolles Prison - A yellow building with the words Guernsey Prison on the walls. There are white bares on the windows and a grey door into the building.
There are currently 91 inmates at Guernsey's Les Nicolles prison

Guernsey's prison has been in the spotlight recently, after a number of incidents.

Late last year a 34-year-old officer was arrested and suspended from duties with full pay, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a controlled substance.

That investigation is still ongoing, according to States officials.

In February 39-year-old Darren Salturi was found dead in his cell and an investigation is now under way to determine what happened.

Independent investigators from the prison and probations ombudsman have visited the prison in recent months and are set to report back in September.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.

More on this story
Related internet links