National recommendation - National Police Chiefs' Council, February 2021
A complaint was made to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in regard to improper contact between an MPS police officer and a member of the public. Our investigation focused on the complaint that the police officer had behaved inappropriately towards a member of the public who called the MPS Victim Focus Desk in regard to a past incident. The police officer then used this call to obtain the member of the public’s contact details. The officer then sent an unwelcome personal text to the member of the public.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) takes steps to ensure that all police forces provide training to officers and staff who regularly come into contact with members of the public, whether face-to-face or by some other means, about Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose. This should incorporate existing national strategies and guidance, and should emphasise the position of power that being a member of a police force confers on an individual. Forces should ensure that an auditable record is made for each person, detailing that the training has been received and understood. Training should be repeated on a regular basis.
This follows an IOPC investigation where the subject said he was not aware he could not contact a victim if they told him it was okay to do so. He also took her mobile number from a police computer system and inputted it onto his personal phone which contravened policy. The investigation found communications on abuse of position to officers was very infrequent, with the last email having been circulated to officers and staff in August 2017.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
The NPCC lead for counter corruption accepts this IOPC s28 learning recommendation. It is recognised that most forces already provide such training/briefings to their officers and staff. However, the importance of ensuring consistency and maintaining momentum in this regard is recognised and agreed.
The NPCC will be seeking to support this learning recommendation through the development of a suitable training product for forces to use.