The support and protection officers receive from the Federation and solicitors when they are under investigation is \u201cworth its weight in gold\u201d, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
Chair Steve Kent was speaking after a Sussex officer was cleared of misconduct, after being restricted from frontline duty for three years. Sussex Police Federation said the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) had \u201ccompletely undermined the PIP process and the safeguards that it provides\u201d.<\/p>\n
Because the officer concerned had made an error in what he recalled in his initial Stage 3 account, the IOPC said he was being dishonest and accused him of gross misconduct. The officer\u2019s barrister said the officer should have been given the opportunity to review body-worn footage, audio and other records to confirm or amend their account. The officer in question is now able to return to their previous role, having been cleared of all allegations.<\/p>\n
Steve said: \u201cLuckily we\u2019ve not had a case like this in South Yorkshire. If you’ve got experienced, trained PIP Federation Representatives and PIP solicitors, it is far less likely that this is going to happen, although I\u2019m not suggesting that Sussex didn\u2019t have these.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this highlights how vital it is that the PIP procedures are followed, and that Fed Reps and solicitors need to be on their game, they need to be aware of some of the issues that come out of the IOPC.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know people can be cynical about the Federation, but this protection provided by the Federation is worth its weight in gold. When officers are in that position, they are scared and worried, and the presence of a solicitor and a Fed Rep really does make a massive difference to how well they are protected.\u201d<\/p>\n