Keeping PSDs fit for purpose

Forces are constantly trying to keep their professional standards departments (PSDs) fit for purpose. Adjustments often have to be made to keep up with local and national changes to policy and procedure. Police Professional talked to Humberside and Surrey to learn about changes they’ve made in recent years.

Humberside

Humberside Chief Constable Tim Hollis knows one of the greatest challenges of maintaining Professional Standards is reflected in the old adage: ‘who will police the police?’

Whilst Life on Mars provided some good nostalgic entertainment, things were not always as they should have been back then. As Sam noticed, one of the most significant changes as we now police the 21st Century is the need for all our staff to display high professional standards.

“Police officers will always investigate criminal allegations robustly and with integrity, whatever the source, but there are particular demands on such officers when they undertake an internal enquiry. It’s not easy for police officers objectively to investigate colleagues they may know personally,” said Mr Hollis. “We trust one another so it does go against the grain. It’s really disappointing to find that colleagues have let the force down.”

That’s why, after becoming chief constable of Humberside, he made sure that money was made available for a covert investigative capability for such investigations. Officers involved work from different premises so that they’re not compromised when called upon to investigate possible malfeasance.

It came in especially handy earlier this year when Humberside dispensed with the services of a detective constable who was found guilty of having a corrupt relationship with drugs criminals.

“It happens from time to time,” said Mr Hollis, “but having served for over 30 years in four police forces including the Met my personal belief is that serious misconduct remains rare. But I do recognise that standards have risen, policing has become more complex and opportunities for lower level misconduct are perhaps greater.”

Earlier this year, information was passed to the PSB that there was an officer who might be involved in a corrupt relationship in the force. Members of an outside force were called upon to assist because – as Mr Hollis explained – everyone knows everyone in a modest-sized force, and tactical procedures were set in place to see if the suspicions were true. In the event, a successful criminal investigation was undertaken and the detective constable was convicted and sentenced to a period of detention. He was also dismissed from the force.

Issues of Professional Standards fall under the responsibility of the deputy chief constable. Humberside’s Professional Standards Branch (PSB) is medium sized, headed by a chief superintendent who is assisted by a team of officers and police staff.

Complaints that are received generally fall into three areas: the lowest level, including such things as people complaining about an officer’s attitude during a traffic stop; medium level, such as more serious complaints perhaps involving allegations of a racist nature against an officer; and highest importance, which include complaints of corruption such as those which landed the detective constable in prison earlier this year.

The highest level of quality assurance comes from the force’s work with the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the regional commissioner who visits frequently. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will investigate the most serious incidents such as deaths in custody, and will either supervise or manage a local investigation often by allowing local investigators to undertake the investigation.

Quality assurance is also provided by the Humberside Police Authority, members of which sit on a committee to oversee that Professional Standards in the force are upheld – coming in to look at completed files to ensure that a complaint has been taken seriously, that the response was thorough and pro