Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 59
Policing fails to adequately address internal complaints, victims, and survivors
Conclusion
If policing can’t get its approach to complainants, victims and survivors within the service right, it has little chance of doing so for others.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the need to ensure police officers who are victims of police-perpetrated crime are afforded certain rights but rejected opening the public complaints system to them. They will explore opportunities to address this as part of the Dismissals Review.
Paragraph Reference:
59
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
We accept that there is a need to ensure that police officers who are victims of police- perpetrated crime are afforded certain rights when making a complaint. We do not think opening up the public complaints system to existing officers and staff can currently be achieved without creating a detrimental impact on the delivery of the system for the public. It is worth noting that officers and staff can currently use the IOPC’s whistleblowing hotline to report concerns of wrongdoing that a criminal offence has been committed, or where there is evidence of conduct that would justify disciplinary proceedings. The IOPC can then use its ‘power of initiative’ to investigate matters without requiring a referral from the relevant police force. Time allowing, we will explore any opportunities to address this matter as part of the delivery of the Dismissals Review recommendations.