Police misconduct sanctions

Public confidence undermined by police officer misconduct not being appropriately investigated and sanctioned.

45 items 9 sources 5 inquiries
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Where this theme appears

Police misconduct sanctions has been flagged across 9 independent accountability sources:

15 inquiry recs 5 PFD reports 6 committee recs 4 HMICFRS recs 2 PPO recs 2 IOPC recs 2 IMB recs 3 detention investigation recs 6 LGO/SPSO decisions

When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.

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Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.

MACP-55 — Implement and monitor new police disciplinary and complaints procedures for effectiveness
Macpherson Inquiry
Recommendation: That the changes to Police Disciplinary and Complaints procedures proposed by the Home Secretary should be fully implemented and closely and publicly monitored as to their effectiveness.
Unknown
COVID-M2.6 — Enact Socio-economic Duty
COVID-19 Inquiry
Recommendation: The UK government should bring into force in England section 1 of the Equality Act 2010, implementing the socio-economic duty. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive should consider an equivalent provision within section 75 of the Northern Ireland …
Gov response: This government is committed to ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, can thrive. The government therefore agrees with the Inquiry's recommendation, that commencement of the socio-economic duty could drive the routine consideration of the …
Accepted
COVID-M2.5 — Advisory Group Terms of Appointment
COVID-19 Inquiry
Recommendation: The Government Office for Science (GO-Science), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) should each develop standard terms of appointment for all participants in scientific advisory groups. These terms should include: clarity around the …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Accepted
MACP-58 — Home Secretary ensure independent investigation of serious complaints against police officers
Macpherson Inquiry
Recommendation: That the Home Secretary, taking into account the strong expression of public perception in this regard, consider what steps can and should be taken to ensure that serious complaints against police officers are independently investigated. Investigation of police officers by …
Unknown
MACP-57 — Ensure racist acts by police officers lead to disciplinary proceedings and dismissal
Macpherson Inquiry
Recommendation: That the Police Services should through the implementation of a Code of Conduct or otherwise ensure that racist words or acts proved to have been spoken or done by police officers should lead to disciplinary proceedings, and that it should …
Unknown
MACP-56 — Allow police disciplinary action for five years after an officer's retirement
Macpherson Inquiry
Recommendation: That in order to eliminate the present provision which prevents disciplinary action after retirement, disciplinary action should be available for at least five years after an officer's retirement.
Unknown
JB-15.25 — Simple misconduct allegations to survive officer resignation
Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Recommendation: Serious consideration should be given to the public interest in amending the current legislation so that allegations of 'simple' misconduct, as distinct from 'gross' misconduct, will survive following a police officer's resignation or retirement. I do not recommend that the …
Gov response: Directed to Home Office. Part of broader review of complaints and disciplinary system.
Response Unclear
JB-15.20 — Process for firearms officer return to duty after fatal shooting
Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Recommendation: There needs to be proper and objective consideration by the NPCC as to whether, and if so when, it is appropriate for a firearms officer to return to active deployment following their part in a fatal shooting. Such consideration must …
Gov response: MPS formally responded on 28 October 2022 (para 38). MPS considers this a national recommendation and did not consider it appropriate to respond at this stage.
Accepted In progress
JB-15.24 — IOPC power to require management action below misconduct threshold
Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Recommendation: The IOPC should be provided with the power to require a force to take 'management action' in situations that fall short of misconduct but where standards of conduct and/or performance have fallen short of a reasonable public expectation. A force …
Gov response: Directed to Home Office. Part of broader review of complaints and disciplinary system.
Response Unclear
BAHA-12 — CPErS Meals Guidance
Baha Mousa Inquiry
Recommendation: JDP 1-10 should give some guidance in relation to the number of daily meals for CPErS and the timing of them. Such guidance will obviously need to take into account the operational realities, particularly close to the point of capture.
Gov response: Accepted. Guidance on meal provision for CPErS has been included in doctrine.
Accepted
BAHA-11 — Sleep Deprivation Prohibition
Baha Mousa Inquiry
Recommendation: JDP 1-10 should make clear that it is prohibited deliberately to keep prisoners awake, even for short periods, merely because they may shortly face tactical questioning or interrogation. CPErS may nevertheless be woken up in order to be tactically questioned …
Gov response: Accepted. JDP 1-10 has been updated to prohibit deliberate sleep deprivation while allowing necessary waking for questioning.
Accepted
BAHA-10 — Sight Deprivation Principles
Baha Mousa Inquiry
Recommendation: Five principles on permitted sight deprivation should be consistently emphasised in JDP 1-10 and subordinate doctrine and instructions: (1) where practicable the need to deprive CPErS of their sight should be avoided in the first place; (2) there must be …
Gov response: Accepted. All five principles have been incorporated into JDP 1-10 and subordinate doctrine.
Accepted
BAHA-1 — Prohibition on Hooding
Baha Mousa Inquiry
Recommendation: The MoD should retain its current absolute prohibition on the use of hoods on Captured Personnel (CPErS).
Gov response: Accepted. The prohibition on hooding has been maintained and reinforced in all relevant doctrine and training.
Accepted
BRIS-115 — Discipline NHS staff who cover up or fail to report sentinel events
Bristol Heart Inquiry
Recommendation: Members of staff in the NHS who cover up or do not report a sentinel event may be subject to disciplinary action by their employer or by their professional body.
Unknown
BRIS-104 — Professional bodies must adopt flexible, local disciplinary actions for misconduct
Bristol Heart Inquiry
Recommendation: In the exercise of their disciplinary function the professional regulatory bodies must adopt a more flexible approach towards what constitutes misconduct. They must deal with cases, as far as possible, at a local level and must have available a range …
Unknown
Elsie Gibson
21 Oct 2013 · South London
Concerns: The Council, as Highways Authority, failed to promptly investigate and take action against an unlicensed scaffold tower that narrowed a pavement, leading to a fatal injury.
Overdue
Neil Budziszewski
23 Mar 2015 · South Yorkshire (West)
Concerns: Multiple failures in police custody included incomplete and unreviewed risk assessments, lack of 30-minute rousing checks for an alcoholic detainee, and inadequate staff training on managing risks associated with alcohol withdrawal.
Response (South Yorkshire Police): South Yorkshire Police will highlight the importance of opening a custody record and completing a risk assessment, even when a detainee is uncooperative, in training and through a briefing document …
Responded
Anne-Marie Nield
25 Jan 2019 · Manchester (North)
Concerns: Police officers widely misunderstood Domestic Abuse policy, failed to use system markers or recognize non-fatal strangulation as a risk factor, conducted inadequate assessments, and critical recommendations remained unimplemented.
Response (Greater Manchester Police): Greater Manchester Police accepts the points raised and will use this case as a study for video briefings to frontline officers, including non-fatal strangulation, VCOP, definitions, markers, flags, and escalating …
Responded
Kevin Clarke
18 Feb 2021 · London Inner South
Concerns: Police training inadequately addresses detainee health in non-emergency situations, with officers lacking vital sign measurement skills. There was ineffective safety officer monitoring, poor leadership and risk assessment during restraint, and insufficient paramedic input.
Response (London Ambulance Service): The LAS has implemented leadership training and Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) refresher training. They collaborated on national guidance for ABD for ambulance staff and are sharing updated clinical guidelines via …
Response (Metropolitan Police Service): The MPS will include information in officer safety and emergency life support training on Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) and de-escalation techniques, the impact of stress on behaviour, and reflection on …
Responded
Terri Harris, John-Paul Bennett, Lacey Bennett and Connie Gent
07 Nov 2023 · Derby and Derbyshire
Concerns: Probation Service offender records lacked clear, prominent recording of critical risk information, leading to unread vital details and insufficient domestic abuse and child safeguarding checks. Systemic issues contributed to ongoing risks.
Response (Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust): Phoenix Futures will send a Probation Feedback Form within 48 hours of attended appointments and 24 hours of failed appointments and will conduct monthly audits of compliance.
Response (HM Prison and Probation Service): HMPPS is updating guidance on Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR) and Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATR), and has launched new joint working arrangements detailing the roles and responsibilities of both the Probation …
Response (Capita): Capita reinforced safeguarding requirements, created a mandatory training module, and implemented a 'clear chain notification' (CCN) for reporting potential risk of harm. The contract with MOJ ends 30 April 2024 …
Overdue
#27 — Insolvency Service disqualifies few directors for phoenixism despite significant tax debt losses
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The Insolvency Service disqualified 6,274 directors over the period 2018–19 to 2023–24, but only seven of these were for phoenixism.83 HMRC estimates that phoenixism accounted for 15% of its tax debt losses in 2022–23, which equates to at least £500 …
Gov response: 6. PAC recommendation: HMRC and the Insolvency Service should write to the Committee within six months with a plan to bear down on tax evaders and rogue directors who flout insolvency rules. This plan should …
Accepted
#25 — HMRC criminal prosecutions have significantly declined, weakening deterrent effect on tax fraud
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: In correspondence after our evidence session HMRC said that in 2023–24 it had launched 430 new criminal investigations and more than 10,200 civil investigations into suspected fraud, and had charged around 17,000 penalties for deliberate non–compliance.74 However, the number of …
Gov response: 6. PAC recommendation: HMRC and the Insolvency Service should write to the Committee within six months with a plan to bear down on tax evaders and rogue directors who flout insolvency rules. This plan should …
Accepted
#6 — Develop a plan to increase prosecutions and disqualifications for tax evaders and rogue directors.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: HMRC and the Insolvency Service are not tackling tax evaders or rogue directors sufficiently, particularly for phoenixism. The number of prosecutions resulting from HMRC’s criminal investigations reduced from 749 in 2018–19 to 344 in 2023–24. The previous Public Accounts Committee …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Companies House and Insolvency Service to increase their collaboration to tackle rogue directors and phoenixism. This includes developing a shared definition of phoenixism. The Exchequer Secretary to the …
Accepted
#2 — Public confidence is undermined when police officer misconduct is not appropriately punished.
Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation: It should be clear that a police officer accused, for example, of mistreating a member of the public or of bullying colleagues or subordinates should be subject, like any other person working in the public service, to investigation and sanction …
Gov response: The Government’s review of the PCC model has looked a wide range of issues including public confidence and how PCCs are held to account themselves. The PCCs’ review (Parts 1 Drew Smith, S. (2015) An …
Not Accepted
#17 — The statutory and regulatory frameworks require full utilisation for fair officer sanctions.
Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation: The available statutory and regulatory frameworks must be used by forces and the IOPC to obtain fair, transparent and appropriate sanctions against officers. (Paragraph 98) The IOPC complaints system
Gov response: The Government strengthened the complaints and discipline systems in February 2020, introducing integrity reforms to improve transparency, accountability and proportionality. The Government welcomes further improvements to the timeliness of, and cooperation within, police misconduct cases—during …
Accepted
#4 — Many complainants remain unsatisfied with police and IOPC investigations into officer misconduct and sanctions applied.
Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation: Each complaint has unique features, and we have heard from a significant number of people whose dealings with police forces, the IOPC or its predecessor have left them unsatisfied with the investigation of their complaints or the level of sanction …
Gov response: The Government agrees that there is a need to ensure the police complaints system, and those bodies that interact with it, are transparent and accessible and that efforts are made to produce plain language and …
Accepted
201403927 — Scottish Prison Service
Mr C said the prison failed to reasonably investigate a complaint about the problems he had making an appeal against a disciplinary decision. Mr C's appeal was rejected because it was made too late. Mr C told the prison that an earlier appeal had been made within the two week …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Prisons Upheld Jul 2015
22-000-594 — Blackburn with Darwen Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the wrongful use of enforcement agents as we are satisfied with the actions the Council has proposed to remedy the matter.
LGO (Local Government & … Transport And Highways Jun 2022
22-008-218 — Cornwall Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council has revoked his taxi licence following an incident at a taxi rank. We cannot lawfully investigate because Mr X is using his court remedy against loss of his taxi licence. There is no other injustice which the Ombudsman could investigate.
LGO (Local Government & … Environment And Regulation Oct 2022
25-020-200 — Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s complaint regarding the conduct of enforcement wardens he witnessed. This is because an investigation would not lead to a different outcome for Mr X.
LGO (Local Government & … Transport And Highways Dec 2025
25-008-447 — Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about someone filming Miss X. This is mainly because the Information Commissioner is better placed than us to deal with the matter.
LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories Nov 2025
25-015-071 — Medway Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a complaint about the conduct of councillors. This is because the complainant has not suffered significant injustice.
LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories Jan 2026
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