Lengthy conduct investigations can impact officers' mental health - says Fed chair

4 April 2024

West Mercia Police Federation chair Steve Butler says lengthy police conduct investigations do not benefit anyone and can have a huge impact on officers’ mental health.

Steve said the process, which can take years to complete, needed speeding up for the benefit of members and complainants.

He said there was also a need to speed up the process to ensure the public has confidence in the system and to ensure value for tax payers.

Steve was speaking after 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.

Steve said: “The public expects high standards from police officers and while the vast majority of members meet those expectations, when they don’t there should be accountability.

“However, officers shouldn’t fear that using their powers, when lawful and in accordance with their training, will end up in a lengthy investigation.

Lengthy conduct investigations can affect officers' mental health.

“The current delays are unacceptable, so these plans to speed up the process are welcome, if not long overdue.

“It shouldn’t take months and even years to complete an investigation, often when the evidence is there, and officers’ welfare is always compromised when delays are implemented as a matter of course.

“It’s frustrating when the criminal, IOPC, and internal police procedures are disproportionately delayed when measured against the standards we have for the public.

“These delays undermine confidence in the system and add no value to the public purse.”

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.