Question
Given recently published figures which show that in the last year PSNI has investigated 80 allegations made against officers of domestic abuse and sexual misconduct, including rape, can the Chief Constable outline (i) what measures are being taken to ensure timely outcomes to these investigations and (ii); what consideration is being given to the negative impact such a number of investigations will have upon confidence in policing?
John Blair - Alliance
Answer
The Statement of Action on Conduct & Standards sets out explicitly the Service’s position on allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse. It also sets out there is no tolerance for these behaviours and when allegations are proved to the required standard dismissal from the Service will be robustly pursued.
Since the beginning of 2022 a total of 10 officers have been dismissed for misconduct with either a sexual or domestic aspect to it.
A number of measures have been taken to ensure timely outcomes:
- Increased use of special case hearings chaired by the Chief Constable. In the past 18 months there has been an increased use of Special Case Hearings to deal more expeditiously with cases of gross misconduct, including sexual and domestic abuse. During 2022 a total of 12 officers were subject to Special Case hearings, with 5 officers also being dealt with this way in 2023 to date. 65% of these cases were concluded within two months of the determination;
- Increased numbers of investigators in Professional Standards’ Department (PSD). An additional eight investigators have been attached to PSD;
- Re-organisation of the management of Professional Standards’ Department and the creation of a Proceedings Team to manage the hearings processes;
- Employment of an in-house lawyer to specialise in police misconduct matters;
- Use of specialist Counsel to prosecute more complex and challenging matters;
- Use of specialist investigators in Public Protection Branch to investigate officers accused of sexual and domestic offences;
- Secured agreement from Public Prosecution Service to assign greater priority to criminal cases involving police officers and develop the knowledge of prosecutors in cases involving officers;
- Separating misconduct and criminal matters where possible to expedite dismissals where possible;
- Ongoing liaison with senior colleagues in the Office of the Police Ombudsman to expedite investigations which are linked.
- The Service Executive and wider organisation is acutely aware of the impacts of officer misconduct on confidence in policing and police legitimacy and seeks to minimise these impacts through robust use of the misconduct and criminal processes.