Federation: The current police conduct system is unfair

31 October 2024

The current police conduct system is unfair, too slow, and is punishing good police officers as well as their families, Surrey Police Federation has said.

Federation Chair Darren Pemble was speaking after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley criticised the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) and said the system had got “out of kilter”.

Sir Mark – a former Surrey Police Chief Constable - said officers had lost confidence in the conduct system and that they were surrendering their public order accreditation, Tasers and firearms, as they felt they were no longer supported in doing high-risk jobs.

Sir Mark said: “The system that holds officers to account needs to pass the common-sense test. It should be timely, fair and respected by both officers and the public. It isn’t.”

Darren said: “I agree with Sir Mark Rowley that there needs to be a common-sense approach to policing. It cannot continue as it is, with officers being dragged through a system that is damaging for individuals as well as their families and colleagues.

“We are losing good people because the system is unfair. We need a fair and timely system that understands what police officers’ work consists of. The work is dangerous, difficult and challenging. We can’t say no to dealing with the man or woman holding a knife or gun, and we are expected to deal with these incidents by using the least amount of force. This is not always possible, and sometimes the public will get hurt and mistakes will be made.”

He continued: “No other profession dissects its people’s actions in as microscopic detail as policing. We accept this to a point, but the pendulum has swung too far. Why does teaching or the medical profession not get reviewed like policing? Both have dealt with some significant failings over the years, yet are not held as accountable. Surely all public sectors should face the same scrutiny and accountability?”

Darren said that fairness and common sense needed to win out, as “policing is difficult enough as it is”. He added: “I hope that the Home Office’s accountability review will provide a way forward that understands policing, giving hope to officers who are just trying to do their job.”