Recommendation - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, March 2024

The IOPC recommends that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary send clear internal communication highlighting that police are no longer to use Police Information Notices (PINs) when dealing with cases concerning harassment. The IOPC further recommends that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary take appropriate steps to ensure that this is reflected in any force training, guidance or policy. This recommendation follows an IOPC death or serious injury (DSI) review which concerned a male being issued with a PIN for harassment. In the period that followed, the man grew increasingly distressed at having received the letter and informed police that the situation would end with him taking his own life. A few weeks later the man was found deceased. From communication with Hampshire Constabulary it has been identified that in 2017, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) recommended that ‘Chief constables should stop the use of Police Information Notices (PINs) and their equivalents immediately.’ Hampshire Constabulary confirmed that following HMIC’s recommendation they ceased the use of PINs in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight but that the HMIC message had not “reached everyone or been remembered.” It is clear that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary recognise that PINs should not be used but so far, do not appear to have taken appropriate steps to ensure that their discontinuance is clearly communicated to officers and police staff. Hampshire Constabulary have welcomed learning in this area. Agreed Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary Force Policy on Stalking and Harassment states at paragraph 3.6 Victim Safeguarding states ‘The use of Police Information Notices (PINs) has now ceased in Hampshire and Isle of Wight following guidance from HMIC’. It is not known when this was added to the policy; however the policy was last updated on 31/08/2023, meaning the issuing of a PIN on 27/09/2023 was not in line with policy. The Learning and Professional Development Team within HIOWC have confirmed the use of PINs is not taught in initial training to officers. A force wide bulletin has been issued to remind all officers and staff that the use of PINs ceased some time ago and that they are not to be used: ‘All officers are reminded that Police Information Notices (PINs) are not to be used.The notices – also known as ‘harassment warning letters’ – were taken out of use after a direction from HMIC in 2017. Our Force Policy on Stalking and Harassment also states they should not be issued. However, there have been recent instances of them being used in Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. Our Professional Standards Department (PSD) has now received communication from the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) requesting that the use of PINs be stopped immediately.Other tools are now available for stalking and harassment cases, including Stalking Protection Orders – there’smore information here.'

Awaiting response