Source · IOPC Learning Case

Recommendation - Cambridgeshire Constabulary, October 2020

Cambridgeshire Constabulary Ref: 2020/134627 Recommended 23 Oct 2020 Response due 18 Dec 2020

This learning was identified from an investigation appeal. A serving officer was arrested and then charged for an assault that happened at his home. A press release was made in which his full name, age and the location of the incident were released in line with the current policy when he was charged. This resulted in his children being identified and bullied at school.

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Recommendations

1 total

Recommendation 1

The IOPC recommends that Cambridgeshire Constabulary considers adding a risk assessment step to their press release policy relating to potential offences committed by police officers. In particular the risk assessment should consider the potential for disproportionate harm that might need to be considered in line with the IOPC naming policy. A serving officer was arrested and then charged for an assault that happened at his home. On charging a press release was made in which his full name, age and the location of the incident were released in line with the current policy when he was charged. This resulted in his children being identified and bullied at school. A review has highlighted that the Cambridgeshire press release policy does not seem to have a risk assessment aspect in it to consider disproportionate harm. Do you accept the recommendation? Yes

Addressed to: Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Linked bodies: Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Accepted

Force response

Accepted action: Apologies for the delay in my reply. This has now been reviewed by the Cambs Head of Corporate Comms and is being adopted and progressed in force as per the attached update to the learning template above.