Officers Investigated for misusing warrant cards from 2018 to 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.028966

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. The number of police officers that have been investigated for misusing their warrant cards in the calendar years of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

2. For each recorded case, please can you provide details of the incidents that led to formal and informal sanctions, and the outcome of that action. Please specify which incidents relate to which outcomes and in which year the incidents took place.

3. Officer guidance related to showing warrant cards when on and off duty.
I have copied Q1 (almost exactly) and Q2 (exactly) from a request made to Northumbria Police

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - The number of police officers that have been investigated for misusing their warrant cards in the calendar years of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Please see the attached spreadsheet for information relevant to this question. Please ensure that the data is read in conjunction with the notes page of the spreadsheet to ensure correct interpretation of the data provided.

Q2 - For each recorded case, please can you provide details of the incidents that led to formal and informal sanctions, and the outcome of that action. Please specify which incidents relate to which outcomes and in which year the incidents took place.

As per our response to your question 1. Please see the attached spreadsheet for information relevant to this question.

Q3 - Officer guidance related to showing warrant cards when on and off duty.

There is no exhaustive guidance or policy governing when an officer or member of staff should produce their warrant card as all incidents turn on their individual facts.

There are limited instances in legislation that require the production of a warrant card (e.g. Paragraph 3.8 of Code of Practice “A” issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984). A warrant card is used by a police officer to prove their identity.

Code A revised (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Any other use of a warrant card, or unnecessarily identifying oneself as a police officer, may constitute misconduct. The assessment of that conduct is made with reference to the standards outlined in Schedule 2 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 and will depend on the specific facts of the case.

The Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk)

The DPS Prevention and Engagement Team give presentations regarding Professional Standards to all officers in their initial training, as well as to promotion courses, and to support Continuous Professional Development (CPD).