PSA National Secretary Warren Franklin has commented following the High Court ruling on February 11th 2025, related to the vetting-based dismissal of a Metropolitan Police Officer:
PSA National Secretary Warren Franklin: "We are clear in our belief that any police officer who has been found to contravene the extremely high standards of professional conduct required in policing, or who has committed a criminal offence, has no place within our service.
"When misconduct or wrongdoing is alleged, it is critical that the right processes and safeguards are in place to ensure fairness and swift outcomes for the service, for communities served by policing, and also for the individuals concerned.
"Officers should be dismissed from the Service when they have been found to have done wrong, but this process must involve transparency, and involve the sharing of evidence used against them to enable fair challenge or right of reply.
"Any officer subject to misconduct allegations has the right to a fair and legal process, implemented by all. Unfortunately, we are aware of examples where this has not been the case and individuals have had their careers and personal lives significantly damaged through the misuse of misconduct processes.
"Currently, we don’t believe that the accountability system on which these processes are based is fit for purpose. Every police officer in every force should be held to the same standards and subject to the same misconduct proceedings, but we know there is inconsistency in decision making.
"These are complex matters which must be resolved quickly. The public must have confidence in the processes in place to hold police officers to account, but so must police officers."
PSA National Secretary Warren Franklin: "We are clear in our belief that any police officer who has been found to contravene the extremely high standards of professional conduct required in policing, or who has committed a criminal offence, has no place within our service.
"When misconduct or wrongdoing is alleged, it is critical that the right processes and safeguards are in place to ensure fairness and swift outcomes for the service, for communities served by policing, and also for the individuals concerned.
"Officers should be dismissed from the Service when they have been found to have done wrong, but this process must involve transparency, and involve the sharing of evidence used against them to enable fair challenge or right of reply.
"Any officer subject to misconduct allegations has the right to a fair and legal process, implemented by all. Unfortunately, we are aware of examples where this has not been the case and individuals have had their careers and personal lives significantly damaged through the misuse of misconduct processes.
"Currently, we don’t believe that the accountability system on which these processes are based is fit for purpose. Every police officer in every force should be held to the same standards and subject to the same misconduct proceedings, but we know there is inconsistency in decision making.
"These are complex matters which must be resolved quickly. The public must have confidence in the processes in place to hold police officers to account, but so must police officers."
Additional Background
A service-wide accountability review was carried out last year – one which our association and our members engaged with at length. The government has committed to driving forward positive change as a result, but this needs to happen quickly and fairly. The Home Office is consulting on new vetting regulations, the College of Policing issued its most recent Vetting APP in December 2024, prior to the result of this Judicial Review being known. We have raised ongoing concerns over the consultation processes for both the Vetting APP and Draft Vetting Regulations and advised it would be prudent to await the outcome of legal challenge.
We are repeatedly given extremely tight timescales in which to respond to complex legal matters with widespread implications. Consultation must be meaningful. We’ve also seen the removal of positive changes made to the draft regulations last year with no explanation. The result of this week’s Judicial Review hearing must now be considered and incorporated in any changes to Regulations, so current drafts must be changed.
The PFEW and PSA have written to the Chair of the Police Advisory Board Discipline Sub Committee asking for an urgent meeting of the Committee given the outcome of the Judicial Review and ongoing consultation on the proposed Vetting Regulations, she is seeking to arrange a meeting in the very near future.