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Police report

by Mark Rowe

A minority of police officers get away with corruption and incompetence which is blighting an otherwise excellent service with dedicated officers. That is according to senior MP Keith Vaz.

The Home Affairs Committee published its report ‘Leadership and standards in the police’. Among its recommendations, MPS said that policing standards should be unified for the first time, at every level from constable to chief constable with all new officers required to obtain a Certificate of Knowledge in Policing. The College of Policing must produce a new Code of Ethics and Integrity for police officers. Guidance issued by the College should be binding and Chiefs who do not follow them should be subject to fines and disciplinary proceedings. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) should hold the new Chief Constables’ register of interests. In addition, it should also hold a national register of Police and Crime Commissioners’ interests and financial details.

In the report, MPs wrote that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that in May 2012 at least 23,043 police staff had second jobs out of a workforce of 201,575. That was up 19 per cent from March 2011 figures, which showed that 19,329 had second jobs. MPs urged the new College of Policing to produce a new Code of Ethics and Integrity for police officers. The committee also called on the college to compile a register of officers who have been dismissed, or who retire with disciplinary proceedings pending. The MPs want it made obligatory for each force to provide the college with the necessary information.

MPs noted that several witnesses alleged that some police forces were manipulating crime-recording practices or figures, to make themselves appear more successful. They wrote of how public faith in policing has been tested by episodes such as the findings of the Hillsborough Panel Report, the “plebgate” incident, and the first dismissal of a chief constable in 30 years. At the same time, spending cuts have prompted a review of police pay and pensions and a freeze on recruitment

For ACPO, the national policing lead for leadership, Sir Peter Fahy, said: “There is already a strong and committed leadership within the police service and ACPO members look forward to working with the College of Policing and Police and Crime Commissioners in the future. Leaders of the service manage complex organisations with multi-million pound budgets, as well as commanding complex operational incidents.

“Issues raised in today’s report by the Home Affairs Select Committee are already being addressed by the leadership of the police and we will continue to support our officers who have reduced crime despite the cuts within every force.”

The Labour MP and chair of the Committee Keith Vaz said: “Broken systems of accountability and a patchwork of police standards and training, have allowed a minority of police officers to get away with corruption and incompetence which is blighting an otherwise excellent service with dedicated officers. The recent allegations of police spying on the Lawrence family and the bugging of Duwayne Brooks, and other activities of undercover officers have shocked the public.

“The days of Dixon of Dock Green are over. The new landscape of policing requires a new type of police officer ready to meet the new challenges. Honesty, integrity and transparency are essential components of the policing DNA.
Every police recruit must be required to achieve a standard Certificate of Knowledge in Policing. The oath of policing should be equivalent to the Hippocratic Oath in which the public has unshakable confidence in the probity of its officers. The College of Policing must develop a Code of Ethics and HMIC needs to hold registers on interests, both of Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners. All details of misconduct must be published on forces’ websites.

“There are currently at least eight exceptional investigations underway as a result of police failings and integrity issues which so far have cost the taxpayer over £23million pounds, with nearly 300 officers yet have resulted in only 5 convictions. The police should not be investigating the police. HMIC and the IPCC need to lead these investigations, ‘double-hatting’ Chief Constables simply cannot give them the time required. It is 14 years since the MacPherson inquiry and it is shameful that there is not a single BAME Chief Constable today. To deal with 21st century crimes, such as terrorism, we need a force that reflects 21st century Britain.”

For the committee report in full visit – http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmhaff/67/6702.htm

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