Police misconduct sanctions
Public confidence undermined by police officer misconduct not being appropriately investigated and sanctioned.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 8 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
15 inquiry recs
6 PFD reports
6 committee recs
2 PPO recs
14 IOPC recs
2 IMB recs
3 detention investigation recs
6 LGO/SPSO decisions
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry recommendations(15)
MACP-55 — Implement and monitor new police disciplinary and complaints procedures for effectiveness
Recommendation: That the changes to Police Disciplinary and Complaints procedures proposed by the Home Secretary should be fully implemented and closely and publicly monitored as to their effectiveness.
Unknown
COVID-M2.6 — Enact Socio-economic Duty
Recommendation: The UK government should bring into force in England section 1 of the Equality Act 2010, implementing the socio-economic duty. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive should consider an equivalent provision within section 75 of the Northern Ireland …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Unknown
COVID-M2.5 — Advisory Group Terms of Appointment
Recommendation: The Government Office for Science (GO-Science), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) should each develop standard terms of appointment for all participants in scientific advisory groups. These terms should include: clarity around the …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Unknown
MACP-58 — Home Secretary ensure independent investigation of serious complaints against police officers
Recommendation: That the Home Secretary, taking into account the strong expression of public perception in this regard, consider what steps can and should be taken to ensure that serious complaints against police officers are independently investigated. Investigation of police officers by …
Unknown
MACP-57 — Ensure racist acts by police officers lead to disciplinary proceedings and dismissal
Recommendation: That the Police Services should through the implementation of a Code of Conduct or otherwise ensure that racist words or acts proved to have been spoken or done by police officers should lead to disciplinary proceedings, and that it should …
Unknown
MACP-56 — Allow police disciplinary action for five years after an officer's retirement
Recommendation: That in order to eliminate the present provision which prevents disciplinary action after retirement, disciplinary action should be available for at least five years after an officer's retirement.
Unknown
JB-15.25 — Simple misconduct allegations to survive officer resignation
Recommendation: Serious consideration should be given to the public interest in amending the current legislation so that allegations of 'simple' misconduct, as distinct from 'gross' misconduct, will survive following a police officer's resignation or retirement. I do not recommend that the …
Gov response: Directed to Home Office. Part of broader review of complaints and disciplinary system.
Response Unclear
JB-15.20 — Process for firearms officer return to duty after fatal shooting
Recommendation: There needs to be proper and objective consideration by the NPCC as to whether, and if so when, it is appropriate for a firearms officer to return to active deployment following their part in a fatal shooting. Such consideration must …
Gov response: No formal NPCC response published. MPS response (28 October 2022, para 38) noted this is a national recommendation. Requires NPCC to establish process for considering when a firearms officer should return to active deployment following …
Accepted
JB-15.24 — IOPC power to require management action below misconduct threshold
Recommendation: The IOPC should be provided with the power to require a force to take 'management action' in situations that fall short of misconduct but where standards of conduct and/or performance have fallen short of a reasonable public expectation. A force …
Gov response: Directed to Home Office. Part of broader review of complaints and disciplinary system.
Response Unclear
BAHA-12 — CPErS Meals Guidance
Recommendation: JDP 1-10 should give some guidance in relation to the number of daily meals for CPErS and the timing of them. Such guidance will obviously need to take into account the operational realities, particularly close to the point of capture.
Gov response: The Secretary of State for Defence accepted this recommendation in principle. Statement to Parliament, 8 September 2011: 'I am accepting in principle all of [Sir William's] recommendations with one reservation.'
Accepted
BAHA-11 — Sleep Deprivation Prohibition
Recommendation: JDP 1-10 should make clear that it is prohibited deliberately to keep prisoners awake, even for short periods, merely because they may shortly face tactical questioning or interrogation. CPErS may nevertheless be woken up in order to be tactically questioned …
Gov response: The Secretary of State for Defence accepted this recommendation in principle. Statement to Parliament, 8 September 2011: 'I am accepting in principle all of [Sir William's] recommendations with one reservation.'
Accepted
BAHA-10 — Sight Deprivation Principles
Recommendation: Five principles on permitted sight deprivation should be consistently emphasised in JDP 1-10 and subordinate doctrine and instructions: (1) where practicable the need to deprive CPErS of their sight should be avoided in the first place; (2) there must be …
Gov response: The Secretary of State for Defence accepted this recommendation in principle. Statement to Parliament, 8 September 2011: 'I am accepting in principle all of [Sir William's] recommendations with one reservation.'
Accepted
BAHA-1 — Prohibition on Hooding
Recommendation: The MoD should retain its current absolute prohibition on the use of hoods on Captured Personnel (CPErS).
Gov response: The Secretary of State for Defence accepted this recommendation in principle. Statement to Parliament, 8 September 2011: 'I am accepting in principle all of [Sir William's] recommendations with one reservation.'
Accepted
BRIS-115 — Discipline NHS staff who cover up or fail to report sentinel events
Recommendation: Members of staff in the NHS who cover up or do not report a sentinel event may be subject to disciplinary action by their employer or by their professional body.
Unknown
BRIS-104 — Professional bodies must adopt flexible, local disciplinary actions for misconduct
Recommendation: In the exercise of their disciplinary function the professional regulatory bodies must adopt a more flexible approach towards what constitutes misconduct. They must deal with cases, as far as possible, at a local level and must have available a range …
Unknown
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(6)
Elsie Gibson
Concerns: The Council, as Highways Authority, failed to promptly investigate and take action against an unlicensed scaffold tower that narrowed a pavement, leading to a fatal injury.
Overdue
Neil Budziszewski
Concerns: Multiple failures in police custody included incomplete and unreviewed risk assessments, lack of 30-minute rousing checks for an alcoholic detainee, and inadequate staff training on managing risks associated with alcohol withdrawal.
Response (South Yorkshire Police): South Yorkshire Police will highlight the importance of opening a custody record and completing a risk assessment, even when a detainee is uncooperative, in training and through a briefing document …
Responded
Anne-Marie Nield
Concerns: Police officers widely misunderstood Domestic Abuse policy, failed to use system markers or recognize non-fatal strangulation as a risk factor, conducted inadequate assessments, and critical recommendations remained unimplemented.
Response (Greater Manchester Police): Greater Manchester Police accepts the points raised and will use this case as a study for video briefings to frontline officers, including non-fatal strangulation, VCOP, definitions, markers, flags, and escalating …
Responded
Kevin Clarke
Concerns: Police training inadequately addresses detainee health in non-emergency situations, with officers lacking vital sign measurement skills. There was ineffective safety officer monitoring, poor leadership and risk assessment during restraint, and insufficient paramedic input.
Response (London Ambulance Service): The LAS has implemented leadership training and Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) refresher training. They collaborated on national guidance for ABD for ambulance staff and are sharing updated clinical guidelines via …
Response (Metropolitan Police Service): The MPS will include information in officer safety and emergency life support training on Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) and de-escalation techniques, the impact of stress on behaviour, and reflection on …
Responded
Terri Harris, John-Paul Bennett, Lacey Bennett and Connie Gent
Concerns: Probation Service offender records lacked clear, prominent recording of critical risk information, leading to unread vital details and insufficient domestic abuse and child safeguarding checks. Systemic issues contributed to ongoing risks.
Response (Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust): Phoenix Futures will send a Probation Feedback Form within 48 hours of attended appointments and 24 hours of failed appointments and will conduct monthly audits of compliance.
Response (HM Prison and Probation Service): HMPPS is updating guidance on Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR) and Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATR), and has launched new joint working arrangements detailing the roles and responsibilities of both the Probation …
Response (Capita): Capita reinforced safeguarding requirements, created a mandatory training module, and implemented a 'clear chain notification' (CCN) for reporting potential risk of harm. The contract with MOJ ends 30 April 2024 …
Overdue
Rebekah Arter
Concerns: There may have been missed opportunities for the IOPC and Metropolitan Police to identify the deceased as a victim of domestic abuse and coercive control. The risk to her was not apparently considered despite her husband's history as an exceptionally persistent offender against women.
Response (Independent Office for Police Complaints): The IOPC disputes the coroner's concerns regarding missed opportunities to identify Rebekah as a victim of domestic abuse, stating these criticisms are 'not founded'. They explain their statutory limitations, emphasising …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office has established a new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection with £13.1m funding and introduced reforms in police misconduct and vetting systems, including a route to …
Response (Metropolitan Police Service): The Metropolitan Police Service is implementing recommendations from the Baroness Casey Review, has launched a VAWG Action Plan, introduced changes to the misconduct system, strengthened vetting standards, and made Domestic …
Responded
Select committee recommendations(6)
#27 — Insolvency Service disqualifies few directors for phoenixism despite significant tax debt losses
Recommendation: The Insolvency Service disqualified 6,274 directors over the period 2018–19 to 2023–24, but only seven of these were for phoenixism.83 HMRC estimates that phoenixism accounted for 15% of its tax debt losses in 2022–23, which equates to at least £500 …
Gov response: 6. PAC recommendation: HMRC and the Insolvency Service should write to the Committee within six months with a plan to bear down on tax evaders and rogue directors who flout insolvency rules. This plan should …
Accepted
#25 — HMRC criminal prosecutions have significantly declined, weakening deterrent effect on tax fraud
Recommendation: In correspondence after our evidence session HMRC said that in 2023–24 it had launched 430 new criminal investigations and more than 10,200 civil investigations into suspected fraud, and had charged around 17,000 penalties for deliberate non–compliance.74 However, the number of …
Gov response: 6. PAC recommendation: HMRC and the Insolvency Service should write to the Committee within six months with a plan to bear down on tax evaders and rogue directors who flout insolvency rules. This plan should …
Accepted
#6 — Develop a plan to increase prosecutions and disqualifications for tax evaders and rogue directors.
Recommendation: HMRC and the Insolvency Service are not tackling tax evaders or rogue directors sufficiently, particularly for phoenixism. The number of prosecutions resulting from HMRC’s criminal investigations reduced from 749 in 2018–19 to 344 in 2023–24. The previous Public Accounts Committee …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Companies House and Insolvency Service to increase their collaboration to tackle rogue directors and phoenixism. This includes developing a shared definition of phoenixism. The Exchequer Secretary to the …
Accepted
#2 — Public confidence is undermined when police officer misconduct is not appropriately punished.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government strengthened the complaints and discipline systems in February 2020, introducing integrity reforms to improve transparency, accountability and proportionality. The Government welcomes further improvements to the timeliness of, and cooperation within, police misconduct cases—during …
Response Not Attributed
#17 — The statutory and regulatory frameworks require full utilisation for fair officer sanctions.
Recommendation: The available statutory and regulatory frameworks must be used by forces and the IOPC to obtain fair, transparent and appropriate sanctions against officers. (Paragraph 98) The IOPC complaints system
Gov response: The Government strengthened the complaints and discipline systems in February 2020, introducing integrity reforms to improve transparency, accountability and proportionality. The Government welcomes further improvements to the timeliness of, and cooperation within, police misconduct cases—during …
Response Not Attributed
#4 — Many complainants remain unsatisfied with police and IOPC investigations into officer misconduct and sanctions applied.
Recommendation: Each complaint has unique features, and we have heard from a significant number of people whose dealings with police forces, the IOPC or its predecessor have left them unsatisfied with the investigation of their complaints or the level of sanction …
Gov response: The Government also notes the Committee’s concerns that, based on some of the evidence it has seen and heard, the work of “providing—and demonstrably providing—a fair, open and, above all, fully trusted mechanism to deal …
Response Not Attributed
PPO death in custody recommendations(2)
IOPC learning recommendations(14)
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should take steps to ensure that when it has been identified that an officer has failed to report or challenge improper conduct, whether or not misconduct processes are initiated against that officer, appropriate steps …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should review how it deals with internal reports of sexual harassment, including how the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) should engage with victims, seeking their views about designating them as persons entitled to information …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS ensures those investigating allegations of bullying and harassment are adequately detached and independent to avoid potential conflicts of interest and to build confidence. This follows an investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment amongst …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS ensures there are metrics in place to measure and demonstrate, in a transparent way, improvements made in tackling bullying and harassment and confidence in the MPS approach to this. This could include reporting on …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should take steps to ensure there is effective supervision and quality assurance in place for officers where there is little measurable work output to review, to ensure the maintenance of policing standards and officers’ …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should assure itself that sufficient steps have been taken to ensure appropriate supervision and welfare is in place to prevent officers becoming isolated through their duties. This follows an investigation into allegations of misconduct …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should review whether frontline roles, particularly response policing of busy areas such as Leicester Square, are assessed as roles which carry greater risk of stress and trauma, and apply the College of Policing psychological …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should review and ensure the adequacy of its current training and guidance on the requirement by police officers to report, challenge or take action against the conduct of colleagues. This should include the responsibilities …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should build on the steps it has taken internally against bullying and harassment, by publicly committing to a position of zero-tolerance on bullying and harassment, which is embedded through messaging, guidance, training and on-going …
National recommendations relating to 'Wayne Couzens failures' - National Police Chiefs' Council …
The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) considers the development and implementation of a Continuous Integrity Screening capability which will notify the appropriate Professional Standard Department’s (PSD) of when a police officer or police staff member is …
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should review and ensure the adequacy of its current training and guidance on the appropriate use of social media, including duties under the Code of Ethics that extend to officer’s private lives. In particular, …
Failure to investigate indecent exposure – Metropolitan Police Service, February 2021
The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) considers the development of a system which automatically notifies the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) of when a serving police officer is linked to an ongoing police investigation. This follows an …
Recommendation - Sussex Police, June 2022
The IOPC recommends that Sussex Police review and amend their training for control room staff to ensure that it involves mental health episodes and that this reflects the full content of the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP). This …
Recommendations - Surrey Police, August 2020
The IOPC recommends that Surrey Police should ensure all custody officers and staff are made aware of and understand any new measures and guidance that are implemented to prevent the routine CCTV recording of strip and intimate searches of detainees. …
IMB individual recommendations(2)
South and East Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF) (2025)
As noted in 7.3, the Board recommends that the Home Office review the use of handcuffs at Luton Airport, when residents are moved through public areas, as the Board considers this non-compliant with STHF Rule 11 - Short-term Holding Facility Rules 2018 amended by Short-term Holding Facility (Amendment) Rules 2022.
Home Office
Scotland and Northern Ireland short-term holding facilities (STHF) (2025)
How did you investigate the apparent serious governance failures that led Mitie Care and Custody, in May 2024, to issue an instruction mandating the blanket use of handcuffs – a directive it later rescinded?
Home Office
Detention investigations(3)
Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre — Rec R52
The SMT should ensure that a single log is kept of all allegations or instances of misconduct by staff and the actions taken in respect of them. (To be completed within 3 months)
Immigration Detention
Investigation into the Disturbance and Fire at Yarl's Wood Removal … — Rec 58
IND reviews disciplinary arrangements in removal centres.
Immigration Detention
Investigation into Allegations of Racism and Mistreatment of Detainees at … — Rec 4
I recommend that Securicor draws my views to the attention of those officers still employed who were responsible for taping the detainee's skirt together between her legs, and considers what further action may be required.
Immigration Detention
LGO / SPSO decisions(6)
201403927 — Scottish Prison Service
Mr C said the prison failed to reasonably investigate a complaint about the problems he had making an appeal against a disciplinary decision. Mr C's appeal was rejected because it was made too late. Mr C told the prison that an earlier appeal had been made within the two week …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Prisons
Upheld
Jul 2015
22-000-594 — Blackburn with Darwen Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the wrongful use of enforcement agents as we are satisfied with the actions the Council has proposed to remedy the matter.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Jun 2022
22-008-218 — Cornwall Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council has revoked his taxi licence following an incident at a taxi rank. We cannot lawfully investigate because Mr X is using his court remedy against loss of his taxi licence. There is no other injustice which the Ombudsman could investigate.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Oct 2022
25-020-200 — Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s complaint regarding the conduct of enforcement wardens he witnessed. This is because an investigation would not lead to a different outcome for Mr X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Dec 2025
25-008-447 — Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about someone filming Miss X. This is mainly because the Information Commissioner is better placed than us to deal with the matter.
LGO (Local Government & …
Other Categories
Nov 2025
25-015-071 — Medway Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a complaint about the conduct of councillors. This is because the complainant has not suffered significant injustice.
LGO (Local Government & …
Other Categories
Jan 2026