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How many complaints are made against police officers, and how many are sacked? How many complaints are made against police officers, and how many are sacked?
(5 months later)
Hundreds of sexual and domestic violence allegations made against Metropolitan police officers require further investigation, the force has said. Police officers found guilty of gross misconduct in England and Wales will face automatic dismissal under government plans.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley announced the findings of Operation Onyx, which reassessed the outcomes of cases involving more than 1,000 officers over the previous decade. There were almost 88,000 complaints against officers in the year to March 2022.
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 police force has a professional standards department which investigates complaints about its officers.Each police force has a professional standards department which investigates complaints about its officers.
Minor complaints - such as poor performance - can result in a "learning outcome": 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 about behaviour which breaches police standards - such as use of excessive force - can lead to a misconduct hearing.More serious complaints about behaviour which breaches police standards - such as use of excessive force - can lead to a misconduct hearing.
A gross misconduct hearing results from more serious allegations that could justify an officer being sacked.
For example, a Bedfordshire police officer was dismissed after shouting and swearing at a woman while off duty.
Possible sanctions following a misconduct hearing include:Possible sanctions following a misconduct hearing include:
a written warninga written warning
a final written warninga final written warning
demotiondemotion
dismissaldismissal
Serious misconduct investigations, such as those involving a death in police custody, are overseen by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Investigations that may involve serious misconduct - such as those involving a death in police custody - are overseen by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
How is the police complaints system changing?
Under the new system, officers who are found guilty of gross misconduct will automatically lose their job, unless "exceptional circumstances" apply.
Misconduct panels will be chaired by chief constables or other senior officers. At the moment these are run by an independent lawyer.
The rules about how serving officers are vetted will also be changed, enabling those who fail re-vetting checks to to be sacked.
Policing minister Chris Philp said the new rules would target the "small minority of police officers who let down the police force, and therefore let down the public".
But the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, warned against "a return to kangaroo courts".
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. According to the most recent statistics, there were 87,786 complaints recorded against police officers in England and Wales in the year to March 2022.
This involved more than 115,000 allegations (a single complaint can contain multiple allegations against multiple officers).This involved more than 115,000 allegations (a single complaint can contain multiple allegations against multiple officers).
No further action was taken in the vast majority (89%) of complaints which were investigated. During this period, 414 officers were found guilty of misconduct, and 284 officers were found guilty of gross misconduct.
Only 158 (0.2%) were referred for disciplinary proceedings: Of the latter group, 93 were dismissed, and a further 133 would have been dismissed had they not already resigned or retired. Fifty eight officers did not lose their job.
105 resulted in a misconduct meeting
46 resulted in a misconduct hearing
6 resulted in a gross misconduct hearing
As a result, nine serving officers were sacked. A further 13 would have been dismissed if they were still serving.
Protesters demonstrate outside the Met's headquarters following the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving police officer
Do officers get paid while under investigation?Do officers get paid while under investigation?
Suspended officers are removed from duty but continue to receive full pay during a misconduct investigation. Suspended officers are removed from duty, but continue to receive full pay.
If an officer is convicted of a serious criminal offence - carried out in connection with their duties - forces can apply for some of 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 up to 65% of their pension to be taken away.
Officers cannot lose more than 65% of their whole 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.
Retired officers - or those who have resigned - can still face disciplinary measures. If found guilty of gross misconduct, a former officer can be placed on a barred list, and prevented from serving in any future police role.Retired officers - or those who have resigned - can still face disciplinary measures. If found guilty of gross misconduct, a former officer can be placed on a barred list, and prevented from serving in any future police role.
What is police vetting? Protesters demonstrate outside the Met's headquarters following the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving police officer
Before new officers are recruited, they undergo vetting - to uncover possible risks to public safety or national security. How are police vetted?
Before new officers are recruited, they undergo a vetting process - to identify potential 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 historycriminal history
employment historyemployment history
credit historycredit history
social media usesocial media use
College of Policing guidance says that all cases should be rejected where the applicant has committed an offence which resulted in a prison sentence, or where the applicant is a registered sex offender.College of Policing guidance says that all cases should be rejected where the applicant has committed an offence which resulted in a prison sentence, or where the applicant is a registered sex offender.
So while a caution for cannabis possession is not necessarily a cause for rejection, more serious offences - such as sexual assault and domestic abuse - can be. Failure to disclose information can also lead to a rejection.
Sir Mark Rowley has said that the current rules are open to interpretation and that the Met may step outside of national guidance to tighten its vetting procedures.
New police officers should be vetted during recruitment
Failure to disclose information could also lead to a rejection.
All officers should be re-vetted every 10 years. While vetting guidance exists, forces are not legally required to follow it.
What concerns have been raised about police vetting?What concerns have been raised about police vetting?
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously warned that the current vetting rules were open to interpretation.
Some officers have given false or incomplete information, according to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC), a police monitoring body.Some officers have given false or incomplete information, according to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC), a police monitoring body.
Its report followed the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard, by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens.Its report followed the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard, by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens.
Despite being accused of indecent exposure while working for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in Kent, Couzens was able to transfer to the Met. Despite being accused of indecent exposure, Couzens was able to transfer to the Met.
In 131 of the 725 vetting cases it examined, HMIC questioned the decision to grant vetting clearance. Another officer, former Met officer David Carrick, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years for a series of rape and sexual offences in February 2023.
Another officer, former Met officer David Carrick, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years for a series of rape and sexual offences in February 2023. He had remained in post despite multiple misconduct allegations. He had remained in post despite multiple misconduct allegations.
What is changing? How has the Met changed the way it handles complaints against officers?
After Carrick's trial, forces were asked to check officers against national police databases. In April 2023, the Met said its own work tackling rogue officers had led to a 70% increase in dismissals in six months. It said the force was building a new "re-vetting" system.
The Met police reinvestigated 1,131 individuals of whom: This followed Baroness Casey's review of the Met, published in March 2023, which found that racism, misogyny and homophobia were at the heart of serious failures within the UK's largest police force.
246 will face no formal action because correct action was taken at the time
689 will undergo a new assessment to pursue new or missed lines of inquiry, including possibly talking again to victims and witnesses
196 face formal risk management measures and potentially a review to determine if they should remain in the force
Across its other misconduct operations, there has been a 70% increase in dismissals in the past six months, the Met says. It also said the force is building a new "re-vetting" system.
In March 2023, a review of the Met by Baroness Casey found that racism, misogyny and homophobia are at the heart of serious failures within the UK's largest police force.
The review made 16 recommendations, including an immediate overhaul of vetting in order to "guard against those who intend to abuse the power of a police officer".The review made 16 recommendations, including an immediate overhaul of vetting in order to "guard against those who intend to abuse the power of a police officer".
Some critics have called for more independent monitoring of police standards. Some critics still want more independent monitoring of police standards:
"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," said Anna Birley, co-founder of social justice organisation Reclaim These Streets.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
PolicingPolicing
JusticeJustice
Metropolitan Police ServiceMetropolitan Police Service
The Casey ReviewThe Casey Review