Chair Andy Symonds comments on changes to police accountability

30 October 2025

Andy Symonds, Chair of Norfolk Police Federation, said: "Officers, especially those in firearms or public order roles, have expressed serious concerns that the civil standard made them vulnerable to disciplinary action even when their actions in terms of use of force were lawful.

"Officers are exasperated that they can be taken through various processes be that criminal courts, inquests, appeals, reviews and ultimately misconduct hearings which can and do take many years to conclude.

"Particularly when all the processes before any misconduct hearing have found that their actions were lawful. Officers expect and are ready for scrutiny in their decisions but not being hounded at every angle and opportunity."

He added: "The review's recommendation is a huge step in the right direction to giving police officers greater confidence in the system that holds them to account.

"I believe that this change will go some way to restore trust and confidence of p[police officers who work in extremely challenging situations the most challenging anyone has in any form of work.

"This recommendation aligns misconduct proceedings with criminal law principles, especially in cases where use of force could also be subject to criminal investigation, it reduces confusion between disciplinary and criminal outcomes for everyone involved in the police misconduct framework in whatever capacity.

"However, the Government now need to bring this change to the Police Regulations at pace. Remembering that they termed this a rapid review.

"They also need to make sure that they answer some unanswered questions. In that these changes must apply to legacy cases, ongoing investigations."