OFFICERS who are put under investigation by the police watchdog for years are seeing their wellbeing damaged and home lives breaking down, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
The Federation has welcomed the Home Secretary\u2019s intervention over imposing deadlines on Independent Office for Police Conduct investigations.<\/p>\n
Priti Patel told the Superintendents\u2019 Association Annual Conference that she wanted to fix the \u201cinjustice\u201d of lengthy investigations into the country\u2019s cops, which leaves their personal and professional lives in \u201climbo\u201d.<\/p>\n
Steve Kent, Federation Chairman said: \u201cIt is unacceptable some of the examples we\u2019ve seen of officers waiting for years for investigations to be finalised. The system needs to be comparable to police investigations in that there may be exceptions in which complex cases could fall out of, hypothetically a 12-months guideline, but as with the police that should be scrutinised by a judicial process if that limit is going to be breached.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, they should have to apply for an extension of an investigation timescale, rather than it just being the norm.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI appreciate the complexity of some investigations but this would keep the focus on the IOPC getting things done more efficiently for the officers\u2019 sake and for everybody\u2019s sake. This can\u2019t come soon enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is stressful for the officers involved. Being investigated, as we\u2019ve seen in some cases up to a decade, does take its toll on officers. We\u2019ve heard of officers whose marriages have broken down and relationships have broken down. It\u2019s a horrendous burden to have on your shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen on the flip side, having officers up and down the country restricted and not being able to perform their duties because of ongoing investigations in itself is damaging because it\u2019s having a knock-on effect. It is in everyone\u2019s interests to get it done as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
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