Federation gives ‘Time Limits’ evidence to MPs

17 September 2020

“The issue of disciplinary investigations rumbling on for more than a year, with devastating effects, still continues. Enough is enough.”

This was the comment from West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott as compelling evidence was submitted by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) to Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee in a bid to reduce police conduct investigation timescales.

The evidence was collected as part of the PFEW Time Limits campaign which was launched last year to highlight the detrimental impact of lengthy inquiries on officers and their families.

It calls for all investigations to be concluded within 12 months of an allegation being made.

Graphic case studies were included in the evidence submitted to MPs, with a powerful testimony from Metropolitan Police officer Adrian Daly who was falsely accused of assault. It took nearly three years for him to clear his name and PFEW even took evidence from his wife to further illustrate how their lives were shattered by the process.

Jon explained: “Protracted conduct investigations are ruining the careers of so many colleagues, leaving a mark on their mental health and on their loved ones. It is clear the effects are shattering.

“So we appreciate this opportunity to present our evidence and will be pushing for a system where breaching the time limits has consequences on the ability to proceed.”

The Federation’s national conduct and performance lead, Phill Matthews, said: “It’s pleasing to see more accountability with the IOPC and the forces, as they are now required to provide and explanation to Police and Crime Commissioners when investigations take longer than a year

“It is also encouraging that the IOPC has admitted there is room for improvement and that they are keen to work with us rather than against us; that hasn’t always been the case.”

The PFEW evidence forms part of a Parliamentary investigation into the IOPC’s handling of complaints and public trust and confidence in the complaints system.