Source · IOPC Learning Case

Recommendations - North Wales Police, January 2025

North Wales Police Ref: 2024/001432 Recommended 21 Jan 2025 Response due 18 Mar 2025

We identified organisational learning after our review of a complaint investigation found a number of errors were made in managing an officer's dyslexia, record keeping and statement preparation.

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Recommendations

2 total

Recommendation 1

The IOPC recommends that North Wales Police review, and where necessary amend, their practice, guidance and policies surrounding the managing and recording of employees’ disabilities and provision of reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. This learning recommendation has arisen following an IOPC investigation review following a complaint investigation in which the force made a number of errors in managing an officer's dyslexia/record keeping. We believe that there is a learning opportunity to change this process to ensure that officers are supported accordingly.

Addressed to: North Wales Police

Linked bodies: North Wales Police

Accepted

Force response

Accepted North Wales Police now have a Working with Disability Policy which covers the provision of reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. A Workplace Adjustment Passport is now in place to support the management and recording of employee disabilities and reasonable adjustment requirements. The management and recording of adjustments done through the Workplace Adjustment passport is completed by the individual and their line manager to ensure there is clear awareness and support available to every employee. There is clear governance of this process through the strategic people board.

Recommendation 2

The IOPC recommends that North Wales Police review, and where necessary amend, their training, guidance and policies provided to police officers and staff about how to write a statement. This learning recommendation has arisen following an IOPC investigation review following a complaint investigation in which an officer confirmed that the way that they prepare a statement is by relying on a template because of their dyslexia. In this instance this was by using a colleague’s statements and altering it accordingly. It should be considered that the officer's lack of reasonable adjustments may have had an impact on not being able to follow the training and guidance/policy that is currently in place.

Addressed to: North Wales Police

Linked bodies: North Wales Police

Accepted

Force response

Accepted The current training and guidance provided to police officers and staff for statement writing has been reviewed. Work is now ongoing to improve the training for police officers and staff members who, owing to a disability or reasonable adjustment, may need additional bespoke training. This will be further supported through individual line management support and recorded using the Workplace Adjustment passport.