Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Deferred
Paragraph: 81
Urge policing leaders to recognise scale of change and foster open dialogue with citizens.
Conclusion
We appreciate the openness of those who gave evidence, but fear that under pressure leaders can default to a defensive position, missing opportunities to help the public understand the challenges they face or to build trust by admitting mistakes. We 64 Policing priorities urge leaders across policing to recognise the true scale of the changes needed and the benefits of open dialogue with citizens, notwithstanding that some operational details will need to remain confidential.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government deflects the recommendation for policing leaders to engage in open dialogue and admit mistakes to build trust by instead detailing crime prevention initiatives, funding for Violence Reduction Units, and overall crime reduction statistics.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
81
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
11. Wellbeing and onboarding surveys consistently demonstrate that quality of supervision and line management is the biggest factor in retention and wellbeing. CoP have rolled out new national leadership standards and accompanying development programmes for every rank to improve leadership skills as well as line management essentials. This includes a focus on front line leadership, with targeted programmes for Sergeant/Inspector ranks. These new standards will be embedded in the system in the coming years through staged planned reform of promotions, progression and talent management. 12. The new Code of Ethics, which will be published in full shortly (the Code of Practice for Ethical Policing was published on 6 December, the remaining components—ethical policing principles and guidance for ethical and professional behaviour—are expected in early 2024), will guide everyone in policing in making decisions ethically. The Code will state that chief officers should ‘ensure that whistle-blowers feel able to report concerns and are listened to, are given appropriate protections and are aware of the various internal and external routes’, and ‘develop culture where staff feel empowered to encouraged to challenge of report behaviour, performance or service delivery that falls below expectations’ 13. Police forces should have measures in place to allow police officers and staff to come forward to report wrongdoing by colleagues in confidence if necessary. These issues have formed part of HMICFRS inspections in the past. In addition, the IOPC has as confidential reporting line for officers and staff to report wrongdoing by their policing colleagues. The IOPC ‘s effectiveness has been reviewed as part of the Cabinet Office’s public bodies review programme by Dr Gillian Fairfield, the independent reviewer. The Fairfield report is being considered by Home Office Ministers, who expect to publish its findings in 2024 The Angiolini review is also expected to consider the effectiveness of police whistleblowing processes.
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