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| Police vetting: What is it and how are complaints dealt with? | Police vetting: What is it and how are complaints dealt with? |
| (2 days later) | |
| The way the police handles complaints against its officers is under scrutiny, after former Met officer David Carrick was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years for a series of rape and sexual offences. | The way the police handles complaints against its officers is under scrutiny, after former Met officer David Carrick was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years for a series of rape and sexual offences. |
| During his trial, it emerged that Carrick was allowed to remain in post despite multiple allegations of misconduct. | During his trial, it emerged that Carrick was allowed to remain in post despite multiple allegations of misconduct. |
| What happens when a complaint is made against a police officer in England and Wales? | What happens when a complaint is made against a police officer in England and Wales? |
| Each force has a professional standards department that investigates complaints against an officer. | Each force has a professional standards department that investigates complaints against an officer. |
| Minor complaints - such as poor performance - can result in a "learning outcome". This involves a discussion with the officer, followed up by a report. | Minor complaints - such as poor performance - can result in a "learning outcome". This involves a discussion with the officer, followed up by a report. |
| More serious complaints can lead to a misconduct hearing. This is behaviour which breaches police standards, such as use of excessive force or trespassing. | More serious complaints can lead to a misconduct hearing. This is behaviour which breaches police standards, such as use of excessive force or trespassing. |
| A gross misconduct hearing results from more serious allegations that could justify an officer being sacked. | A gross misconduct hearing results from more serious allegations that could justify an officer being sacked. |
| For example, a Bedfordshire police officer was recently dismissed after shouting and swearing at a woman while off duty. | For example, a Bedfordshire police officer was recently dismissed after shouting and swearing at a woman while off duty. |
| Other possible sanctions following a misconduct hearing include: | Other possible sanctions following a misconduct hearing include: |
| a written warning | a written warning |
| a final written warning | a final written warning |
| demotion | demotion |
| dismissal | dismissal |
| Serious misconduct investigations, such as those involving a death in police custody, are overseen by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. | Serious misconduct investigations, such as those involving a death in police custody, are overseen by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. |
| How many complaints are made against police officers? | How many complaints are made against police officers? |
| In the year to March 2022, there were 87,786 complaints recorded against police officers in England and Wales. This involved more than 115,000 allegations (a single complaint can contain multiple allegations against multiple officers). | In the year to March 2022, there were 87,786 complaints recorded against police officers in England and Wales. This involved more than 115,000 allegations (a single complaint can contain multiple allegations against multiple officers). |
| Of the complaints which were finalised, the majority (89%) required no further action. | Of the complaints which were finalised, the majority (89%) required no further action. |
| Only 158 (0.2%) were referred for disciplinary proceedings. Of these cases: | Only 158 (0.2%) were referred for disciplinary proceedings. Of these cases: |
| 105 (67%) resulted in a misconduct meeting | 105 (67%) resulted in a misconduct meeting |
| 46 (29%) resulted in a misconduct hearing | 46 (29%) resulted in a misconduct hearing |
| 6 (4%) resulted in a gross misconduct hearing | 6 (4%) resulted in a gross misconduct hearing |
| At the end of proceedings, 38 complaints led to a gross misconduct ruling and 78 to misconduct. | At the end of proceedings, 38 complaints led to a gross misconduct ruling and 78 to misconduct. |
| Only nine serving officers were sacked and a further 13 would have been dismissed if they were still serving. | Only nine serving officers were sacked and a further 13 would have been dismissed if they were still serving. |
| There were more than 3,000 other misconduct cases brought against officers which did not result from a complaint. A third were referred for disciplinary proceedings. | There were more than 3,000 other misconduct cases brought against officers which did not result from a complaint. A third were referred for disciplinary proceedings. |
| Protesters demonstrate outside the Met's headquarters following the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving police officer | Protesters demonstrate outside the Met's headquarters following the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving police officer |
| Do officers still get paid when under investigation? | Do officers still get paid when under investigation? |
| Suspended officers continue to receive full pay during a misconduct investigation. They are also removed from duty. | Suspended officers continue to receive full pay during a misconduct investigation. They are also removed from duty. |
| If an officer is convicted of a serious criminal offence - carried out in connection with their duties - forces can apply for their pension to be taken away. | If an officer is convicted of a serious criminal offence - carried out in connection with their duties - forces can apply for their pension to be taken away. |
| Officers can only ever lose a maximum of 65% of their whole pension. The decision is ultimately the home secretary's. | Officers can only ever lose a maximum of 65% of their whole pension. The decision is ultimately the home secretary's. |
| If an officer loses any part of their pension, they have 14 days to appeal. | If an officer loses any part of their pension, they have 14 days to appeal. |
| There were 42 approved pension removals in the five years to November 2022, according to a Freedom of Information request reported by the Guardian. The total number of applications is unknown. | There were 42 approved pension removals in the five years to November 2022, according to a Freedom of Information request reported by the Guardian. The total number of applications is unknown. |
| Officers who are retired - or who have resigned - can still face disciplinary measures. If guilty of gross misconduct, a former officer can be placed on a police barred list and prevented from serving in any future police role. | Officers who are retired - or who have resigned - can still face disciplinary measures. If guilty of gross misconduct, a former officer can be placed on a police barred list and prevented from serving in any future police role. |
| What is police vetting? | What is police vetting? |
| Before new officers are recruited, they need to undergo vetting - to uncover possible risks to public safety or national security. | Before new officers are recruited, they need to undergo vetting - to uncover possible risks to public safety or national security. |
| The checks are carried out by individual forces and cover: | The checks are carried out by individual forces and cover: |
| criminal history | criminal history |
| employment history | employment history |
| credit history | credit history |
| social media use | social media use |
| Having a minor criminal conviction is not necessarily a cause for rejection. But more serious offences - such as sexual assault and domestic abuse - can be. | Having a minor criminal conviction is not necessarily a cause for rejection. But more serious offences - such as sexual assault and domestic abuse - can be. |
| New police officers should be vetted during recruitment | New police officers should be vetted during recruitment |
| Failure to disclose information could also lead to rejection. | Failure to disclose information could also lead to rejection. |
| All officers should be re-vetted every 10 years. While vetting guidance exists, forces are not legally required to follow it. | All officers should be re-vetted every 10 years. While vetting guidance exists, forces are not legally required to follow it. |
| Met Police officer David Carrick admits to being serial rapist | Met Police officer David Carrick admits to being serial rapist |
| David Carrick: Police trust 'hanging by a thread' over rape cases | David Carrick: Police trust 'hanging by a thread' over rape cases |
| What concerns have been raised about police vetting? | What concerns have been raised about police vetting? |
| Some officers have given false or incomplete information to vetting units, according to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC), a police monitoring body. | Some officers have given false or incomplete information to vetting units, according to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC), a police monitoring body. |
| HMIC also discovered some officers had been transferred between forces despite having a history of misconduct. | HMIC also discovered some officers had been transferred between forces despite having a history of misconduct. |
| In 131 of the 725 vetting cases it examined in a report, HMIC questioned the decision to grant vetting clearance. | In 131 of the 725 vetting cases it examined in a report, HMIC questioned the decision to grant vetting clearance. |
| The report followed the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens. | The report followed the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens. |
| After Carrick's trial, forces were asked to check officers against national police databases. | After Carrick's trial, forces were asked to check officers against national police databases. |
| The Met says it is reviewing more than 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse cases involving 800 of its 34,000 officers over the past decade. | The Met says it is reviewing more than 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse cases involving 800 of its 34,000 officers over the past decade. |
| However, some argue bad behaviour within policing is often covered up and the culture needs to be tackled. | However, some argue bad behaviour within policing is often covered up and the culture needs to be tackled. |
| "The police train their own, they monitor their own, they review their own", says Anna Birley, co-founder of social justice organisation Reclaim These Streets. | "The police train their own, they monitor their own, they review their own", says Anna Birley, co-founder of social justice organisation Reclaim These Streets. |
| Related Topics | |
| Policing | |
| Justice | |
| Metropolitan Police Service |