Misconduct probe put in spotlight
A POLICE officer’s ‘gross misconduct’ hearing came to nothing and was dismissed – after a near-sevenyear investigation into him sparked by ‘multiple, repeated allegations’, a federation said.
Greater Manchester Police Federation, which represents rankand-file officers, has hit out at police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in a Facebook post in the wake of the case.
But the IOPC has accused the federation of ‘misrepresenting’ the facts.
The watchdog said its investigation was completed within 15 months and it provided its report to Greater Manchester Police three and a half years ago.
Despite the allegations they made against the officer, a sergeant, the complainants ‘refused’ to attend the misconduct hearing at GMP headquarters on Monday, which was thrown out by a panel within an hour, the federation said.
The IOPC said the panel cited a delay in bringing the case to a hearing. They also referenced ‘matters completely outside the IOPC’S control’.
The watchdog confirmed it investigated a complaint regarding the conduct of GMP officers during an arrest made in Rochdale in November, 2014.
Two officers were subsequently found to have a case to answer for gross misconduct.
The case was then passed back to GMP.
One officer left the force but the other – the sergeant – answered allegations at the hearing, which were dismissed, that his conduct amounted to a breach of the standards of professional behaviour for use of force.
The IOPC has faced repeated criticism within policing circles over the time it takes to conclude formal investigations into officers when official complaints are made against them.
Stu Berry, chairman of the GMP Police Federation, said the unnamed officer had ‘been under investigation for a third of his 24-year career at great personal cost to him and the public purse’.
“His personal life and career have suffered a colossal detriment and I hope he can begin the healing process,” added Mr Berry within the Facebook post.
On the case, Mr Berry said the officer’s youngest child wasn’t born when the investigation into him began. They are now six.
He went on to call for Government reform of the IOPC.
It’s understood criminal proceedings involving the complainants were commenced during the time period.
In a Facebook post on Monday, GMP Federation said: “A misconduct hearing involving a Greater Manchester Police officer was dismissed by a panel within an hour earlier today following an horrific ordeal exacerbated by an IOPC investigation lasting nearly seven years.”
Mr Berry said he had been supporting the officer in the case.
“This is yet another example which highlights failings within the Independent Office for Police Conduct,” he said within the Facebook post.
“The medical report from the IOPC’S expert was subject to insufficient review or scrutiny by the IOPC investigators, and, if it had been, it is unlikely that the matter would have been advanced by GMP.
“This added to the prejudice caused by the delay in bringing the case.
“After seven years and multiple repeated allegations, the complainants refused to attend.
“To put this into perspective, the officer has been under investigation for a third of his 24-year career at great personal cost to him and the public purse. His youngest child – aged six – wasn’t born when the investigation began.
“His personal life and career have suffered a colossal detriment and I hope he can begin the healing process.”
Mr Berry told the Observers: “As police officers we expect to be held to a high standard. We accept that.
“The main issue is the amount of time it takes to get from A to B.”
In a statement, an IOPC spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that the Federation have chosen to misrepresent the facts of this case.
“This investigation into complaints of racism and use of force was completed within 15 months and our report provided to GMP three and a half years ago.
“In dismissing misconduct proceedings on Monday, November 8, the panel cited the delay in bringing the matter to a hearing; the absence of witnesses, including police witnesses; and problems with medical evidence.
“These are matters completely outside the IOPC’S control and the medical evidence included an expert changing their opinion only in recent weeks.
“Since the IOPC was formed in January 2018, we now complete a third or our investigations within six months and 91 per cent in under 12 months.”
Greater Manchester Police said the matter was an independent IOPC investigation and for them to comment on.