In brief: Jersey’s Education Department has confirmed that books by David Walliams will remain on school and public library shelves “at the present time,” following serious sexual misconduct allegations against the children’s author. The department says it wants to encourage reading and will not restrict book choices unnecessarily, though it will monitor developments.
The Allegations and the Injunction
David Walliams, the comedian and best-selling children’s author best known for titles including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, has been accused of using his celebrity status to prey on young women and teenagers for sex. Walliams has denied the allegations of sexual misconduct. The Jersey Evening Post reports that an injunction preventing the media from naming Walliams and publishing the allegations against him lapsed on Wednesday, opening the floodgates for widespread coverage.
Walliams has sold more than 50 million copies of his books, making him one of the most widely read children’s authors in the world. His work is a fixture in primary school classrooms and libraries across the British Isles, including in Jersey. The allegations have prompted a number of schools and libraries across the UK to withdraw his books from their shelves.
Jersey’s Position: Books Stay, For Now
Jersey’s Education Department has taken a more measured approach than many of its UK counterparts. An Education Department spokesperson told the Jersey Evening Post that children should be encouraged to read and that the options available to them should not be restricted. The spokesperson said: “We want to encourage children and young people to read and do not want to discourage that by unnecessarily restricting the choice of books available to them.”
The department also set out the principle underpinning Jersey Library’s approach, stating that “the starting point is that books should remain available to readers unless their content is illegal.” Collections, the spokesperson added, are managed in line with “established professional and ethical principles” and are “continually reviewed and refreshed in response to reader demand.”
On the question of individual schools, the department confirmed that decisions are made using professional judgement, taking into account factors including age appropriateness and the needs and interests of pupils. The spokesperson concluded: “David Walliams’ books therefore remain available in Jersey Library and school libraries at the present time. We will monitor developments following recent reporting concerning David Walliams and review the position if further relevant information or guidance becomes available.”
A Balancing Act
The debate playing out in Jersey mirrors a broader tension that has become increasingly familiar in the English-speaking world: how institutions respond to allegations against individuals whose work is already deeply embedded in public life. The question of whether to separate an author from their books is not a new one, but it rarely gets easier.
Jersey’s approach, at least for now, leans towards caution and proportionality rather than the reflexive removal seen in some UK institutions. The department has not closed the door on future action, noting it will review the position if “further relevant information or guidance” becomes available. That is a sensible hedge, leaving room to act without rushing to judgment.
For parents in Jersey, the practical reality is that Walliams’ books remain on the shelves their children use every day. Whether that sits comfortably will depend very much on the individual family.
Source: Jersey Evening Post
