Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Increased chief officer powers insufficient to address systemic misconduct issues or race disparities
Conclusion
We are persuaded, however, that policing could do more within the existing disciplinary system, ahead of any regulatory changes. Giving chief officers more say over dismissals will not on its own deliver a more consistent interpretation of “gross misconduct” or higher quality of investigations. We also remain concerned about troubling race disparities in the misconduct system, highlighted in our previous report on “The Macpherson Report: Twenty-two years on.” (Paragraph 41) Policing priorities 61
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states it has recommended the College of Policing introduce an accreditation scheme for professional standards investigators to ensure the very highest standard of investigations.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
22. The Home Office remains committed to working with the policing sector to better understand why disparities exist within the dismissals system. This includes better understanding the data, where collecting and reporting the data is vital to ensure an evidenced based approach to any mitigations taken, as well as reassuring the public of the fairness of the dismissals system. This work is ongoing across the policing sector. 33. Individual investigators are already required, by law, to have the requisite knowledge, skills and experience necessary to investigate a particular allegation, before they are appointed to do so. Following the review into police officer dismissals, the Government has recommended that the College of Policing introduce an accreditation scheme for professional standards investigators, to ensure the very highest standard of investigations. 38. In August 2023, following the conclusion of the Home Office review into police officer dismissals, the Government announced a series of reforms to strengthen policing standards. This includes measures which we consider are likely to improve timeliness and efficiency in the system. a) responsibility for chairing hearings to return to senior officers;
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