New misconduct powers for Chiefs is a ‘backwards step’
1 September 2023
New powers to allow chief constables to sack officers found guilty of misconduct are a backwards step that will hit morale, says West Mercia Police Federation.
Lesley Williams, branch treasurer and conduct and performance liaison officer (CAPLO) said the process for removing officers was already in place and the changes were politically driven.
Her comments follow a Government announcement that a finding of gross misconduct will automatically result in a police officer’s dismissal, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Officers who fail vetting checks can also be fired.
Under the new system, chief constables or their deputies will chair misconduct panels. Until now, they have been chaired by an independent lawyer.
Lesley said: “Legally qualified chairs (LQC) were brought in for independence and fairness. Is that no longer required?
“They bring independence to the policing community. Fairness and impartiality are qualities that policing strives to show to the public yet not to our own staff, it seems.
“The process to remove officers is already fit for purpose and, when applied correctly, is perfectly capable of being used to dismiss those officers where gross misconduct is found proven.
“This is a backwards step when we should be moving forward with reform, and it will do nothing for morale in policing.
“Chief constables, however fair they may say they will be, are cops at the end of the day. They are not legally qualified and are not trained as such.
“The recent changes that are being brought in so quickly - the vetting authorised professional practice (APP), renewed code of ethics and now this - are a politically driven response to a very small minority of high profile cases.
“Of course every officer feels these individuals don’t belong in policing, and they would always have been removed following conviction under the current system.
“It’s clear that the conduct regulations are being eroded and that is not what policing needs.
“The calls for quicker dismissal is not where the focus should be. It should be on more timely investigations that prove or disprove and that are proportionate to the offence alleged.”
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, said: “Corrupt police officers and those who behave poorly or fail vetting must be kicked out of our forces. For too long our police chiefs have not had the powers they need to root out those who have no place wearing the uniform.
“Now they can take swift and robust action to sack officers who should not be serving our communities.
“The public must have confidence that their officers are the best of the best, like the vast majority of brave men and women wearing the badge, and that’s why those who disgrace the uniform must have no place to hide.”
