Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Rejected
Paragraph: 8
Public confidence is undermined when police officer misconduct is not appropriately punished.
Conclusion
It should be clear that a police officer accused, for example, of mistreating a member of the public or of bullying colleagues or subordinates should be subject, like any other person working in the public service, to investigation and sanction if proven to have done so. Public confidence is undermined if misconduct is not appropriately punished.
Government Response Summary
The government stated it could not agree to the recommendation due to the timing of its PCC review, but committed to assessing the impact of police complaints reforms implemented in February 2020, including the enhanced role of Police and Crime Commissioners.
Paragraph Reference:
8
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government’s review of the PCC model has looked a wide range of issues including public confidence and how PCCs are held to account themselves. The PCCs’ review (Parts 1 Drew Smith, S. (2015) An independent review of the governance arrangements of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. 1 and 2) had clear terms and reference and concluded their work before the Committee published this report on police conduct and complaints. The Home Secretary announced the findings of Part 2 (via a Written Ministerial Statement) on 16 March 2022. So, we cannot now agree to the Committee’s recommendation. However, the Government will in due course, make an assessment of the impact of the reforms to police complaints implemented in February 2020. This will include consideration of the enhanced role for PCCs that the complaints reforms provided for.