Home Office reform plans are a 'step in the right direction' says Fed chair

28 March 2024

Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris says Home Office plans to reform of police accountability systems are ‘a step in the right direction’.

Darren welcomed the proposals announced by Home Secretary James Cleverly and said the amendments were ‘overdue’.

He was commenting on an announcement by the Home Office that investigations into police officers suspected of committing offences in the line of duty will be sped up to provide swifter clarity to both officers and victims.

The Home Office also announced a rise in the threshold for referring police officers for criminal prosecution, saying that ‘only cases that have a reasonable prospect of conviction should be referred’. This mirrors the test for members of the public suspected of committing a crime.

Darren said: “It is right that police officers are accountable for their actions but the system needs to strike a balance between taking action against those who do not meet the high standards expected of officers, and supporting those who make a split-second decision to use their powers effectively and in line with their training.

“Most IOPC cases find officers have done nothing wrong, or that they have made a mistake in a pressured situation.

“And yet investigations sometimes take years to complete, with huge impact on officers and their families.

“As a Federation we’ve been calling for a 12-month cap on disciplinary proceedings through our Time Limits campaign, so we welcome the Home Office announcement that the process will be sped up.

“We also welcome the change to the threshold for referring officers for criminal prosecution to mirror the test for the public. It’s interesting the Home Office has acknowledged a different standard for police officers, which can’t be right.

“These changes are a step in the right direction and members will want to see them implemented quickly.”

In September last year, the then Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, announced a review of the way in which police use of force and police driving related incidents were investigated.

Announcing the outcome of the review and reforms to the police accountability system, Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Our police officers act bravely in the line of duty, and they should not fear that their actions, when lawful and taken in line with their training and guidance, could damage their careers, wellbeing and family life.

“It is vital for the public and our policing that officers are held to the highest of standards and a balance must be struck between making sure officers can do their jobs safely and confidently and holding them to account.

“That is why the changes we are setting out today, and further measures in the coming months, will ensure both our officers and the public have faith in the accountability system.”

Other proposals include giving the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) the ability to refer cases to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) earlier, once an investigation has finished rather than waiting for a final report to be drafted. This will allow them to speed up the referral process and give officers and victims clarity sooner, the Home Office said.

The Home Office also said that to ensure that no cases slip through the net, the IOPC’s Victim’s Right to Review policy will be put on a statutory footing, strengthening the ability for victims of police use of force to challenge when cases have not been referred to the CPS.