Police Officer / PCSO Crimes (65A/24)
Request
For the period 3 March 2018 to 10 January 2024, please could you tell me:
1) The number of police officers and PCSOs in your force convicted of a crime;
2) For each officer/PCSO listed in your answer to question 1, the type of offence (assault, rape, etc),
3) The name, date of birth, gender and rank of each convicted officer/PCSO and their status with your force now (i.e. still serving, suspended, on limited duties, resigned, sacked, etc).
For the period 3 March 2021 to 10 January 2024, please could you tell me:
4) The count of how many criminal cases we are tracking only.
Response
Please find attached our response.
In addition to the figures above, the force can neither confirm nor deny that it holds any other information relevant to this request as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) if the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 30(3) – Investigations and proceedings conducted by the public authority
Section 31(3) – Law enforcement
Section 40(5) – Personal information
When citing s40(5), there is a requirement to consider whether disclosure would be fair. In this case release would not be fair and therefore section 40(5) is classed as absolute and there is no requirement to consider the public interest.
This exemption and explanatory notes are shown here:
No inference can be taken from this refusal that any further information relevant to your request does or does not exist.
It is important to note the force operates under the Police Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour. This includes challenging any inappropriate behaviour or action which would discredit the police service or undermine public confidence in policing.
Our Professional Standards department, take a robust stance and are committed to rooting out abuse of power, criminality and corruption whenever we find evidence of it. This is done by carrying out thorough investigations, offering support and dealing appropriately with anyone found to be acting in an inappropriate manner.
We want our officers to uphold the highest of standards so the public has the utmost confidence in them.
Sexual harassment and abuse are simply unacceptable but when it is done by a police officer – who holds a position of power and someone the public should trust – it must be rooted out and eliminated.
We must do everything we can to maintain public confidence and trust in policing.
This will provide reassurance to the public that we mean it when we say we’ll do all we can to preserve and rebuild trust.