Kent Police Federation Chair Neil Mennie looks at the publication of the Home Office Accountability Review.

22 March 2024

Neil said: “Accountability is a principle that all officers will be more than familiar with as part of a wider package of standards they are expected to demonstrate. Scrutiny is of course to be expected and hardly a surprise given the duties they undertake.

“There is no doubt that this level has exceeded all sensible limits and has seen the ready application of ‘hindsight binoculars’ when investigating officers.

“Officers have to be confident in using their powers and force when it’s appropriate and in circumstances where they are trying to do the right thing. The most dangerous element that we can introduce is hesitancy or delay in the minds of those making incredibly difficult judgements often in very dynamic situations.

“It challenges the very core of what any reasonable person would expect an officer to do and what they are for.

“The report by Dr Gillian Fairfield also now published, into the IOPC has unsurprisingly called for it to ‘speed up its investigation process’ and talks about the impact this has on many parties including police officers under investigation.

“Any changes need to happen soon and not at the pedestrian speed we have come to endure.”

More here