HMICFRS review of whistleblower protections
It is recommended that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services conduct a thematic investigation of the operation of the practices and procedures introduced following the adoption of the Code of Ethics in 2014 to determine whether sufficient resources are available to ensure appropriate protection of those police officers and police staff who wish to draw alleged wrongdoing to the attention of their organisations.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe College of Policing's Code of Ethics is a hugely significant document in policing and applies to everyone working in the policing profession. The Code of Ethics, first published in 2014, aims to deliver a set of policing principles and ensures that ethics are at the centre of all policing decisions. The College is currently reviewing the Code of Ethics and intends to further promote a policing culture of openness and accountability. We expect this to be published shortly. This will include a Code of Practice for ethical policing aimed at Chief Constables, to ensure their staff demonstrate the necessary behaviour as outlined in the Code of Ethics, where candour will be a key theme.
The College of Policing's Code of Ethics is a hugely significant document in policing and applies to everyone working in the policing profession. The Code of Ethics, first published in 2014, aims to deliver a set of policing principles and ensures that ethics are at the centre of all policing decisions. The College is currently reviewing the Code of Ethics and intends to further promote a policing culture of openness and accountability. We expect this to be published shortly. This will include a Code of Practice for ethical policing aimed at Chief Constables, to ensure their staff demonstrate the necessary behaviour as outlined in the Code of Ethics, where candour will be a key theme.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
The College of Policing is reviewing the Code of Ethics (first published 2014) to further promote openness and accountability, with candour as a key theme. A Code of Practice for ethical policing aimed at Chief Constables is expected. However no specific thematic investigation of whistleblower protections has been published by HMICFRS as the Panel recommended. The HMICFRS November 2022 vetting inspection touched on related issues but was not the dedicated thematic review requested.
View detailed findings
The College of Policing is updating the Code of Ethics with candour as a key theme, but the specific HMICFRS thematic investigation of whistleblower protections recommended by the Panel has not been conducted.