Source · IOPC Learning Case

Recommendation - Norfolk Constabulary, March 2021

Norfolk Constabulary Ref: 2020/145858 Recommended 17 Mar 2021 Response due 12 May 2021

This review identified learning in relation to Norfolk Constabulary's training practices around off duty conduct and officers inadvertently placing themselves on duty. The Home Office Guidance 2020 paragraph 2.21 states that “when police officers produce their warrant card or act in a way to suggest that they are acting in their capacity as a police officer (e.g. declaring that they are a police officer) they are demonstrating that they are exercising their authority and have therefore put themselves on duty …

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Recommendations

1 total

Recommendation 1

The IOPC recommends that Norfolk Constabulary devise a training programme or incorporate into existing training the content of the revised Home Office Guidance (Conduct, Efficiency and Effectiveness: Statutory Guidance on Professional Standards, Performance and Integrity in Policing)2020 regarding off duty conduct. It is suggested that the training include case studies for use in future training (including refresher training) illustrating the ways off duty police officers may inadvertently place themselves on duty thereby becoming subject to all of the Standards of Professional Behaviour highlighted in the 2020 Guidance. This follows an IOPC review where an off duty officer helping a friend to retrieve belongings, introduced himself to a neighbour as a police officer, in an effort to prevent the neighbour from calling the police and wasting police time and also contacted the police approved locksmith for the friend to enable access to the property. In doing so it is believed that the officer inadvertently placed himself on duty. Do you accept the recommendation? Yes

Addressed to: Norfolk Constabulary

Linked bodies: Norfolk Constabulary

Accepted

Force response

Accepted action: Norfolk Constabulary has reviewed and accepted the learning recommendation provided by the IOPC. In order to address the recommendations highlighted the following action will be taken: