6 December 2021

Dorset Police Federation reacts to the NPCC trying to turn misconduct hearings into ‘kangaroo courts’

Dorset Police Federation Chair James Dimmack reacts to the NPCC trying to turn misconduct hearings into ‘kangaroo courts’

In his keynote speech at the APCC & NPCC Partnership Summit 2021, NPCC Chair Martin Hewitt told delegates it has asked all chief constables to chair more accelerated hearings, “wherever the grounds are met, to swiftly determine the facts”, and to make submissions to Legally Qualified Chairs “wherever appropriate, so that sanctions always meet the gravity of an offence.”

Chiefs have also been advised by the NPCC to seek judicial reviews where dismissal is not the outcome, and it wants the College of Policing guidance amended. The Federation believes this is to influence dismissals and hamstring panels.

Reacting, James said: “Policing has longstanding regulations and processes which are designed to promote a code of conduct and ensure officers are held to account.

“These processes have been amended and enhanced over the years to reflect on both learning and also the ever changing society in which we live and serve.

“It is a dangerous thing to flippantly make comment on any ruling seemingly because it does not fit the narrative of any given individual. These proceedings are presided over by independent legally qualified Chairs.

“Seemingly it seems fair to say that in my view those challenging these decisions are neither sufficiently legally qualified or certainly not independent. Policing is a disciplined service and we all have to adhere its processes. If these processes need challenging there are recognised systems in place to facilitate this.”