Information about the Professional Standards Department

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030289

I note you seek access to the following information:

Original request:
1. How many police officers and police staff currently work within your Professional Standards Department (PSD) (May 2023)?

2. How many police officers and police staff currently working within your Professional Standards Department (PSD) had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld before they began working in the PSD?

3. How many police officers and police staff currently working within your Professional Standards Department (PSD) had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld whilst working in the PSD?

4. Of those officers and staff who had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld, what was the nature of the allegations, according to the IOPC's categories as follows: - Abuse of power/corruption - Access and/or disclosure of information - Delivery of duties and service - Discreditable conduct - Discriminatory behaviour - Handling of or damage to property/premises - Individual behaviours - Police Powers, policies and procedures - Sexual conduct - Use of police vehicles – Other

5. Of those officers and staff who had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld, what was the sanction?

Decision

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

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many police officers and police staff currently work within your Professional Standards Department (PSD) (May 2023)?

In our previous response we provided a link in relation to this question and you have requested an explanation with reference to the 516.28 Professional Standards police officer strength.

Explanation: The 516.28 refers to the budgeted workforce and includes full-time and part-time staff. A full-time member is shown as 1.0 but if a member of staff is part-time, their information is shown as a percentage. For example, a person may work part-time which equates to 0.28, which is pro-rated against full-time hours.

Q2 - How many police officers and police staff currently working within your Professional Standards Department (PSD) had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld before they began working in the PSD?

22 Police Officers and 2 Police Staff currently working within the Professional Standards Department had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld before they began working in the PSD.

Q3 - How many police officers and police staff currently working within your Professional Standards Department (PSD) had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld whilst working in the PSD?

1 Police Officer and 0 Police Staff currently working within the Professional Standards Department have had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld whilst working in the PSD.

Q4 - Of those officers and staff who had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld, what was the nature of the allegations, according to the IOPC's categories as follows: - Abuse of power/corruption - Access and/or disclosure of information - Delivery of duties and service - Discreditable conduct - Discriminatory behaviour - Handling of or damage to property/premises - Individual behaviours - Police Powers, policies and procedures - Sexual conduct - Use of police vehicles - Other

The nature of the allegation for the 1 Police Officer was ‘Performance of Duties’.

Q5 - Of those officers and staff who had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld, what was the sanction?

The sanctions of the 25 Police Officers & Police Staff (24 pre-joining and 1 after joining) who had disciplinary proceedings against them upheld were as follows:
• Final Written Warning = 02
• Management Advice = 13
• Written Warning = 09
• Caution = 01

Regarding the outcome of ‘Caution’, this relates to a very old case that was dealt with under the Conduct Reg 2004.

Under the 2004 Regs the possible sanctions are:
(2) Those sanctions are—
(a) dismissal from the force;
(b) requirement to resign from the force as an alternative to dismissal taking effect either forthwith or on such date as may be specified in the decision;
(c) reduction in rank;
(d) fine;
(e) in the case of a special constable only, suspension from all or from operational duties only for a period of up to three months;
(f) reprimand;
(g) caution.