Background Checks Failure Leads to Immediate Termination for Police Officers

Under new measures coming into force from May 14th, serving police officers in England and Wales who fail background checks will be automatically sacked. This move aims to restore public confidence in policing by giving police chiefs stronger powers to get rid of rogue officers.

The changes follow recent legal challenges that highlighted the difficulty forces faced in removing officers who were unfit to protect the public. A Metropolitan Police officer, Sergeant Lino Di Maria, successfully mounted a legal challenge after having his vetting removed over allegations of sexual misconduct. However, this case has led to calls for greater accountability and measures to ensure officers are fit to serve.

The reformed police dismissal system will provide clear routes for action to remove individuals who fall below the high standards the public and workforce rightly expect and deserve. Police chiefs will now have the authority to automatically sack officers who fail vetting, without the need for further investigation or appeal.

Safeguards to Improve National Standards

The Home Office plans to introduce further safeguards to improve national standards for vetting later this year. These measures include stronger requirements to suspend officers under investigation for violence against women and girls. Officers convicted of certain criminal offences will also be automatically found guilty of gross misconduct.

While existing processes exist for forces to deal with allegations of misconduct, failing vetting may not be enough to sack officers. In some circumstances, those who do not pass suitability checks but cannot be sacked can stay in the force on full pay. However, the new measures aim to address this issue and ensure that officers are held accountable for their actions.

Support from Key Figures

The move has been welcomed by key figures in the policing world. Dame Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, praised the initiative, stating that ensuring officers are legally required to pass background checks and providing police chiefs with the ability to remove individuals who aren’t fit to serve are positive first steps as we start to rebuild public trust in the force.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, also expressed support for the measures, highlighting that they will give the Met leadership the authority to automatically sack officers who fail vetting and ensure that anyone who fails vetting can no longer serve in the force.