SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation is backing changes to police conduct regulations which will see a shift from blaming to learning.<\/p>\n
Complaints against officers will be now be treated as learning opportunities wherever relevant in an attempt to end the blame and punish culture in policing.<\/p>\n
The new \u2018reflective practice\u2019 guidelines take effect in February next year.<\/p>\n
Federation Chair Steve Kent hopes the change will give officers the confidence to make important, in- the-moment decisions and ease some of the pressures of the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe welcome it on the basis of what we know so far and what we\u2019ve seen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately it has to be a culture of learning rather than a culture of punishment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe knock-on effect of this is that it reduces the strain on officers who are going about their day-to-day business, trying to do the best job they can under a constant cloud of undue scrutiny if they make a decision one way or another.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll give them that bit of reassurance \u2026 it could have a knock-on effect of improving officer\u2019s mental health in the job because there is definitely, on the frontline, a weight on officers\u2019 shoulders because of the fear of scrutiny.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers need to have the confidence to go out and do their jobs to the best of their abilities without fear of unnecessary and over the top scrutiny.\u201d<\/p>\n