Changes to dismissal process will be another blow to officer morale

1 September 2023

Police Federation Welsh affairs lead Nicky Ryan has warned controversial changes to the police dismissal process will come as yet another blow to officer morale.

Nicky spoke out after the Home Office announced police officers in England and Wales will face automatic dismissal if found guilty of gross misconduct.

She said officers already felt alienated by the Government and that this latest intervention would only add to the sense of betrayal.

“Earlier this year I urged politicians in Westminster to listen to the views of rank-and-file officers and take steps to repair what is clearly a broken relationship between Government and policing,” said Nicky.

“Our Pay and Morale Survey found 93 per cent of members did not feel respected by national leaders and 64 per cent did not feel valued within the service and it highlighted just how bad things had become and should have been a wake-up call.

“But this latest move from the Home Office, which essentially removes the right to an independent hearing for officers facing misconduct allegations, shows what little value is placed on our views and opinions.

“When police officers sign an oath they do so in the knowledge that their employment rights will be severely limited.

“To balance this out, a disciplinary process which afforded them at least some protection was developed and by and large, worked perfectly well.

“But the changes to the system mean chief constables will suddenly become judge, jury and executioner with the potential power to fire someone on a whim.

“That is grossly unfair and comes as yet another blow to an already deeply demoralised workforce.”

Chief constables or other senior officers will have greater powers to root out and sack rogue officers as part of the major overhaul which will see them once again preside over misconduct hearings.

They will also have the right to challenge decisions while law changes will make sure officers who fail vetting checks can be sacked on the spot.

The Home Office said the changes were designed to help rebuild public trust and confidence in the wake of Wayne Couzens and David Carrick scandals.

But Nicky said changing the disciplinary system to the disadvantage of rank-and-file-officers was wide of the mark.

She said: “Decent, hard working police officers were appalled by these scandals and fully support the idea of robust vetting and the removal of undesirable individuals.

“But surely the current state of policing is down to chief constables for failing to implement stringent vetting practices, maintain high standards and provide training to those who investigate corrupt officers.”

Policing minister Chris Philp insisted the new measures struck “the right balance” and ensured a fair process with officers having the right to appeal to the Police Appeals Tribunal.

But John Bassett, a barrister representing the National Association of Legally Qualified Chairs, speaking in a personal capacity, said he was “disappointed” by the proposals and branded them a "fudge" which do not address the issues.

He said the current system was “open, transparent and fair process” and warned that without having independent lawyers leading a disciplinary panel, police chiefs would be “marking their own homework”.