Vice Chair Reacts To Tom Winsor's Statement on Wanting to Trawl Police Officer's Private Mobile Phones

9 November 2021

The Vice Chair of Cleveland Police Federation has reacted to Tom Winsor's Statement on wanting to trawl police officer's private mobile phones ‘to weed out the misogynists’.

Paul Crowley, Vice Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, said: “Police Officers are already subject to strict Police Regulations and restrictions both on and off-duty. They should also be afforded the basic human right of a private and family life. 

“Random checks of personal phones would prove to be nothing more than an unlawful fishing exercise.” 

John Apter, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "Police officers are subject to the law, like anyone else. Any criminal investigation could allow the personal phones of officers to be examined. In addition to this, officers are subject to strict misconduct regulations both on and off duty.

"Random checks of their personal phones for nothing more than a fishing exercise would be excessive, disproportionate and unlawful.

"Police officers deserve to have a private life."