THERE is a \u201ccrisis in policing\u201d as officers, particularly detectives, are struggling to manage their workloads following changes in CPS guidance, the PFEW annual conference has heard.<\/p>\n
A panel session focused on last year\u2019s changes to the Crown Prosecution Service Director\u2019s guidance, DG6, which requires officers to provide the CPS with a trial-ready prosecution before it makes a decision about charging.<\/p>\n
The new disclosure rules, which started in January 2021, have had a massive effect on detectives and other officers, increasing workloads by 33%.<\/p>\n
In a PFEW detectives survey, almost 96% of respondents said the changes had increased the number of hours spent on pre-case file preparation. In addition, 61% of respondents said the changes had increased their intentions to leave their role.<\/p>\n
Panellist Ben Hudson (pictured), Secretary of Suffolk Police Federation, described it as a \u201ccrisis in policing\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cMorale among colleagues is low. It is unnecessary, time-consuming and counter-productive to produce full case files when people plead guilty straight away. We urge the CPS to reconsider the full impact of these changes and how they can be mitigated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot afford to lose any more of our professional investigators. It also puts off those who wish to become detectives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delegates also heard from officers who were affected by the changes, including Sgt Josh Ives, who said: \u201cI feel like our hands have been tied behind our backs by the changes\u2026 It\u2019s taking far too long on what many officers feel like trivial tasks. The changes are completely unsustainable. The system\u2019s broken.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Wiltshire PC Georgie Dodd said: \u201cMorale is low in the station. You can see officers sinking in their seats as they have so much to do. I feel we are letting our victims down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill QC acknowledged the problem but said officers could use DG6 to help their investigation.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI do get it. I know we\u2019re looking at police professionals and I can\u2019t put it better than it\u2019s about locking up bad people and protecting victims of crime. We\u2019re with you on that.<\/p>\n
\u201c[DG6] is not there to block you but rather to help you in your investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick Ephgrave, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council (NPCC) Lead for Criminal Justice, said issues had arisen due to the need for increased rigour around the disclosure law, along with a massive increase in the volume of data officers were having to deal with in a digital age.<\/p>\n
He suggested that \u201cofficers should start thinking about disclosure from the outset of an investigation to make sure that the burden of their workload is being spread out\u201d.<\/p>\n
But he added that positive changes were coming, as the Solicitor General had completed a review of the guidelines and was attempting to reduce the burden of redaction and deal with the difficult matter of third-party material.<\/p>\n