Data reveals long wait for police complainants

THERE were more than 2,500 complaints against Devon and Cornwall Police officers in the last two calendar years, of which only one has so far resulted in any kind of disciplinary hearing, new figures have revealed.

Information from a Freedom of Information request has also revealed that more than 170 internal conduct matters involving D&C officers were instigated between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, of which four have resulted in a disciplinary hearing.

The information revealed that the average time from a complaint or conduct matter being received to a disciplinary hearing starting is 537 days – almost 18 months. However, Devon and Cornwall Police have said matters of misconduct “cannot be facilitated in a few weeks” as they are subject to legislation, and have blamed the pandemic for the length of time taken “when an individual’s job is at stake”.

Data supplied by law from the force’s Professional Standards Department has revealed that 1,325 complaints were made against police officers of Devon and Cornwall Police in 2020, while that figure dropped to 1,274 in 2021. The information also revealed that 174 internal conduct matters were dealt with by the force over the same period – 80 in 2020 and 94 in 2021.

Of the publicly made complaints, just one resulted in any kind of disciplinary hearing in 2020, while four of the 80 internal conduct matters resulted in a disciplinary hearing. None of the complaints or internal conduct matters received in 2021 have yet resulted in the commencement of any disciplinary hearings – although the length of time investigating the matters could explain this. No details have been provided about the nature of the complaints or potential conduct matters.

The figures were uncovered by campaigner Alan Grant, who believes that Devon and Cornwall Police take too long to bring any complaints to bear for those officers investigated. He said the effect on ratepayers was that officers were being paid their salaries in full while the lengthy complaints or misconduct procedure was ongoing.

Mr Grant said: “My concerns suggested that the whole process was geared to protect the police, and make it difficult to make a complaint and receive a positive response and justice for the complainant. I also suggested that much of the delays, in my view, was because of the obdurate response from representatives of the police subject to complaint.

“The outcome has been quite shocking and far beyond anything I could have imagined,” he added. “So, make a complaint against the police, and you spend 18 months on a waiting list before a hearing will be assembled.”

A police spokesperson said: “Both misconduct hearings, which are for matters of gross misconduct, and meetings, which are for matters of misconduct, are governed by legislation and have to follow a procedure which cannot be facilitated in a few weeks. Some investigations are more complex than others and take time to resolve. Staff numbers and prioritisation is also a factor in this.

“Equally, the Covid pandemic has influenced the length of time taken because when an individual’s job is at stake, misconduct hearings have to be held in person; [and] so many were postponed during Covid restrictions in line with the law.”