Police Regulations changed before Parliament dissolves

POLICE misconduct and appeal hearings will be made public from 1 May, although it is unlikely they will be broadcast over the internet as previously proposed.

Some hearings, or parts of hearings, may still be held in private for operational reasons. The policy was introduced into Police Regulations earlier this month following a Home Office consultation.

“The majority of respondents did not agree with live-streaming hearings, taking of photographs during hearings or the use of audio recording, except for official use, citing the potential for misuse through social media which could adversely affect the future career prospects of officers,” said a Home Office document.

It will be up to police forces to decide how to ensure public access to hearings and for the chairman of the hearing to decide what conditions to place on those who attend.

From January 2016, independent legally qualified chairmen rather than senior officers will be in charge of hearings, removing the need for legal advisers and freeing up the time of senior officers, said the Home Office.

Home Secretary Theresa May claims the reforms will “completely overhaul the police complaints and disciplinary systems to ensure that the system is accountable, transparent and easy for the public to understand”.

She said the public needs to have confidence that the system is “fair and effective” and that it holds corrupt officers to account for their actions.

The Police Federation and Superintendents’ Association have both previously backed the proposal.

The Home Office also introduced regulations that give whistleblowers more protection and allow compensation to be withheld from chief officers found guilty of misconduct.

Mrs May has suggested that the Federation will also be subject to the Freedom of Information Act in the next Parliament.

The College of Policing has said that greater transparency will “expose misdemeanours” by individual officers. “The service should not be afraid of this; better to demonstrate that miscreants are dealt with properly than to leave a suspicion they are not,” it said.