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ITV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Accusations of Jersey Airport cover-up after minister reveals bomb threat was missed for six hours
Jersey Airport is being accused of a cover-up after a government minister revealed that staff missed a bomb threat, eventually evacuating the terminal more than seven hours later. Deputy Ian Gorst confirmed that an email was sent to the airport's customer enquiries inbox at 11:16pm on Tuesday 4 March, but it is only monitored during operational hours - 5:30am to 9pm - so officials discovered the threat the next morning during standard opening checks. Emergency procedures were then activated and the decision was made to evacuate the entire terminal building following a risk assessment, with the alarm raised at 6:28am on Wednesday 5 March. The runway was subsequently closed, with all flights suspended and people asked to avoid the area as armed police secured the scene. After extensive checks, it was deemed to be a hoax and Jersey Airport reopened just after 11am. At the time, Operations Director Ashley Maggs described it as a "significant security incident" that staff were "taking very seriously". However, Deputy Jonathan Renouf says: "It's deeply concerning that a bomb threat was actually received the night before and not seen by anybody. "That seems to be a major security breach and failure, it should be investigated as a matter of extreme urgency. "What I find particularly worrying is that it has taken so much effort and so long to find out what has gone on. I have been asking questions and the media has been asking questions; the best solution in these circumstances is openness and transparency. Instead, it looks like we've had an attempt to cover it up." In response, Mr Maggs confirmed the minister's timeline, adding: "We are unable to give any more details of the specifics of this threat due to laws which govern aviation security. "A multi-agency response was conducted in accordance with emergency response procedures. "As with any security incident, we cannot comment any further on this matter or actions taken." ITV News understands that a police investigation into what happened is ongoing. 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
4 days ago
- ITV News
Man jailed after stealing £397,000 from wife's family business to fund 'lavish' holidays and car
A man has been jailed for eight years in Jersey after stealing £397,000 from his wife's small family business to fund a "lavish lifestyle" of Caribbean holidays, five-star hotels, cruises and an expensive car. Benjamin Mitton, 46, took the money from scrap metal company Hunt Bros Ltd between March 2015 and July 2019. The firm has been running since 1851 and is one of Jersey's oldest family businesses, said to have operated on trust for generations. Jersey's Royal Court heard how Mitton was offered the job to help him get back into work, was paid well with bonuses and lived rent-free in a home owned by his father-in-law, but still started stealing almost immediately. Commissioner Andrew Oldland explained that Mitton showed no remorse, deflecting blame onto other family members in a "particularly serious breach of trust". He added that Mitton's in-law, James Hunt, broke down as he could not understand how the company was losing money. Commissioner Oldland stated: "In response, you simply shook your head and said, 'You should go home'. "You knew full well where the money had gone; you had stolen it and carried on stealing. "James felt he had failed his father and uncle and this has left him doubting any decision he now makes. Your behaviour has had a devastating impact on all family members, old and young. "The company survived, but the impact on the family has been very serious." Mitton did not help the police during the investigation, responding with no comment during interviews. He was found guilty in April on one count of larceny as a servant - a worker stealing from their employer - and two counts of transferring criminal property. The Court heard how Mitton was out of work in 2015 and his wife's family invited him to join the company as a trainee supervisor. The prosecution explained: "As a member of the family, you were trusted with sums of money, made a signatory and had keys to both safes. Rather than improving financial systems, you took advantage. "You stole cash that had come from the bank and paid it into your own accounts. As quickly as this money came in, it came out again." It was discovered that Mitton had paid money into his own account on the same day he took cash from the family business on 30 occasions. Commissioner Oldland added: "This was a small, tight-knit family business built on trust. As a consequence, it did not have a robust system of checks and balances; it was a cash business, which means it regularly needed to withdraw cash to pay customers. "You told the bank a number of lies - that you had set up a business, you created a false trail." 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
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Jersey politicians relax election rules to allow more residents to vote
People who have lived in Jersey for at least a year will now be able to vote in the island's elections. Politicians backed Deputy Hilary Jeune's proposal by 30 votes to 16, meaning the residency requirement will be reduced from two years to 12 months. Deputy Jeune believes it is "a small but meaningful step toward a more inclusive democracy" ahead of Jersey's next General Election on Sunday 7 June 2026 - which will also see the role of Senators return. While canvassing in 2022, she says newer residents were frustrated at the two-year rule as they wanted to vote but were shut out. Her amendment argues that key workers and professionals moving to Jersey should be allowed to decide how the island is governed at an earlier stage, rather than being disenfranchised. Deputy Jeune hopes the move will lead to higher public engagement in politics and greater voter turnout, as well as bringing the island in line with other jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man. A review is also underway which could see all prisoners in Jersey given the right to vote - currently, those detained for longer than four years are disqualified from having their say in an 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
6 days ago
- Climate
- ITV News
From age nine to 82: The Island Walk challengers who trekked 48.1 miles around Jersey for charity
Around 700 people have completed the 48.1-mile TMF Group Island Walk around Jersey to raise money for local charities. In scorching heat as temperatures peaked at 32.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, Matt Johnson was the first to cross the line in a time of eight hours and 48 minutes. The last person finished at 12:15am on Sunday, having started 21 hours earlier from Elizabeth Harbour Ferry Terminal. The youngest person to complete the course was nine years old, while the oldest was 82. Just under half of the 343 registered walkers from overseas finished the challenge; some travelled from Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. 70% Completion rate Alongside the main walk, hundreds also took part in the 13-mile Lieutenant Governor's Challenge and shorter One TMF Challenge. Nearly £3 million has been raised collectively for good causes since the annual event started in 1991. Some of the pictures from the 2025 Island Walk: 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
6 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Guernsey airline Aurigny lost £6.5 million in 2024 despite record passenger numbers
The Guernsey airline Aurigny lost £6.5 million in 2024, despite handling a record number of passengers. The government-owned operator says its expenditure was driven by the unexpected cost of leasing aircraft to cover technical problems that kept some of its fleet grounded last year, as well as global supply chain issues. Aurigny adds that it avoided £10 million of maintenance costs by selling the 122-seater Embraer jet. Roger Pratt, the airline's Chief Financial Officer, explains: "The short-term pressures we faced in 2024, particularly the need for significant wet leasing, are easing and the decisions made last year - including fleet simplification - will help secure longer-term financial stability. "Whilst this was a challenging year that in many ways both Aurigny and its passengers will wish to put behind them, we connected more people than ever before, supported the island's visitor economy, and protected essential lifeline routes." The airline dealt with 570,000 passengers in 2024, 3% more than the previous year. £1.7 million Operating profit in 2023 Deputy Peter Roffey, the outgoing President of Guernsey's States Trading Supervisory Board, spoke about the situation in April, describing Aurigny's 2024 performance as "a fairly disastrous year". However, he added that previous strong earnings mean the airline will not be asking the taxpayer for extra funding. In 2023, the operator posted a profit of £1.7 million and it made £6 million in 2022. 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...
