“Tougher sanctions for officers” to improve trust in policing

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones welcomes ‘tougher sanctions for officers’ to improve trust in policing in response to updated College of Policing guidance for tackling violence against women and girls

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, welcomes the updated guidance from the College of Policing today (August 17) which outlines new guidance for chief officers and legally qualified chairs when carrying our misconduct hearings.

The guidance spells out that officers who commit violence towards women and girls should expect to be sacked and barred from re-joining the police. It specifically references guidance for chief officers and legally qualified chairs to assess the seriousness of officers’ actions and the impact on public confidence in policing when making dismissal decisions. 

Commissioner Donna Jones: “I really welcome this updated guidance today. This is a step in the right direction in terms of improving trust in policing. The public have a right to have absolute confidence in police officers. Where there are examples of officers not meeting the required standard they should be exited from their roles as promptly as possible.

“Working with Legally Qualified Chairs (LQCs) on misconduct processes, Police and Crime Commissioners have a duty to ensure those in policing are fit to serve the people that we represent.

“It is vital this guidance is followed to ensure that any officer who jeopardises trust in policing is dealt with firmly, fairly and openly.

“Transparency and efficiency in misconduct processes are key.”

“However, in my role as national Victims lead for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, my concerns remain on the length of time it takes for some of these cases to come to fruition. Often misconduct cases are delayed due to ongoing criminal investigations.

“These need to be prioritised in order for police officers who are not fit to serve the public are removed from their roles quicker, allowing victims to get the swift justice they deserve.”

The comments come after the College of Policing released updated guidance on outcomes for police misconduct hearings today.

Outcomes for police misconduct proceedings – updated guidance | College of Policing