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| Police conduct undermining service's reputation, says watchdog | Police conduct undermining service's reputation, says watchdog |
| (4 months later) | |
| Police officers have been warned that the "very legitimacy" of the service risks being undermined unless more is done to take issues of integrity more seriously, a watchdog says. | Police officers have been warned that the "very legitimacy" of the service risks being undermined unless more is done to take issues of integrity more seriously, a watchdog says. |
| Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary (HMIC) says integrity, such as how police deals with the media and how officers conduct themselves, must be treated with a "greater sense of urgency". | Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary (HMIC) says integrity, such as how police deals with the media and how officers conduct themselves, must be treated with a "greater sense of urgency". |
| The report is a follow up to one last year by HMIC called "Without fear or favour" about abuses of police power in the wake of the phone hacking scandal. | The report is a follow up to one last year by HMIC called "Without fear or favour" about abuses of police power in the wake of the phone hacking scandal. |
| The report released on Wednesday finds progress but warns: "More needs to be done by the service, and with a greater sense of urgency, if the public is to have confidence that it takes integrity matters seriously and is gripping them effectively. | The report released on Wednesday finds progress but warns: "More needs to be done by the service, and with a greater sense of urgency, if the public is to have confidence that it takes integrity matters seriously and is gripping them effectively. |
| "High-profile cases of alleged police corruption, other criminal behaviour and misconduct have had a detrimental effect on the reputation of the service. | "High-profile cases of alleged police corruption, other criminal behaviour and misconduct have had a detrimental effect on the reputation of the service. |
| "This has implications not only for the effectiveness of police activity in fighting crime (which requires public engagement and involvement based on trust), but also ultimately for the very legitimacy of a public service many wish to hold in high regard." | "This has implications not only for the effectiveness of police activity in fighting crime (which requires public engagement and involvement based on trust), but also ultimately for the very legitimacy of a public service many wish to hold in high regard." |
| A survey for the report found over one third of people, 36%, "believing corruption was fairly or very common" in the police. | A survey for the report found over one third of people, 36%, "believing corruption was fairly or very common" in the police. |
| The report warns about the dangers posed by social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Over 150 instances were identified of users believed to be employed by the police being critical of the police or the government. | The report warns about the dangers posed by social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Over 150 instances were identified of users believed to be employed by the police being critical of the police or the government. |
| The report says there were 1588 profiles on sites belonging to police employees: "A total of 357 instances of potentially inappropriate behaviour were identified, spread across 185 profiles." | The report says there were 1588 profiles on sites belonging to police employees: "A total of 357 instances of potentially inappropriate behaviour were identified, spread across 185 profiles." |
| "The inappropriate behaviour can be broken down into four categories: offensive language or behaviour (132 instances); comments on police protocol or procedure (119 instances); negativity towards work (70 instances); and extreme opinions on government (36 instances). All examples of inappropriate behaviour were referred back to the forces to handle as they saw fit." | "The inappropriate behaviour can be broken down into four categories: offensive language or behaviour (132 instances); comments on police protocol or procedure (119 instances); negativity towards work (70 instances); and extreme opinions on government (36 instances). All examples of inappropriate behaviour were referred back to the forces to handle as they saw fit." |
| The report says force anti-corruption and standards units should challenge their own chiefs over their integrity more often. HMIC said it would carry out surprise inspections and said that newly elected police and crime commissioners may provide more scrutiny. | The report says force anti-corruption and standards units should challenge their own chiefs over their integrity more often. HMIC said it would carry out surprise inspections and said that newly elected police and crime commissioners may provide more scrutiny. |
| HM inspector of constabulary, Roger Baker, said: "HMIC found that the police service is responding to our 2011 report by making improvements to how it identifies, monitors and manages integrity issues; but we are concerned that this progress is inconsistent, and lacks a uniform sense of urgency." | HM inspector of constabulary, Roger Baker, said: "HMIC found that the police service is responding to our 2011 report by making improvements to how it identifies, monitors and manages integrity issues; but we are concerned that this progress is inconsistent, and lacks a uniform sense of urgency." |
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