Staffordshire branch conduct lead Phil Jones has welcomed plans for the Federation to be involved in the training of new Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigators.
Phil, who is also the branch chair, said it was “a real step forward” that the Federation will have a role in training recruits to the police watchdog.
It’s hoped the ‘Meet the Fed’ sessions will lead to smoother relations between officers, their Federation reps and IOPC investigators.
The IOPC recruits will learn about the Police Federation’s conduct and performance liaison officers (CAPLOs) who support members from day one of a complaint and what they will require from them at each stage of an investigation. They will also receive Post-Incident Procedures (PIP) Level 1 and 2 training accredited by the College of Policing.
Phil said this development was a success for the Federation’s Time Limits campaign, which calls for a 12-month cap on misconduct proceedings against officers.
“This a real step forward that will help speed up the timeliness of IOPC investigations, which is what we’ve long been calling for through the Federation’s Time Limits campaign,” Phil explained.
“We know that lengthy investigations can have a huge impact on the lives of officers, their families and even their colleagues, and we know they’re a burden on the public purse.
“Giving IOPC investigators the best training will only make it fairer on our members should they ever come under investigation and improve confidence in the system.”
Phill Matthews, the national Federation’s conduct and performance chair, will take part in the sessions.
He said: “This is an important and positive first step towards improving the relationship between IOPC investigators and Fed reps which should in turn make the disciplinary system fairer for everyone.
“By breaking down barriers, we can open discussions with its investigators on how our reps operate to not just support officers but also assist their investigations from day one. We want to help them make the process as smooth as possible.”
Phill added: “IOPC investigators now having access to PIP training is very welcome news and is something the Federation has been pressing hard for. All detectives are trained to this standard, so it only seems right that IOPC investigators are also trained to this level or higher.
“Ultimately, all we want is fair investigators with the best possible training, gathering the evidence our members need to either clear themselves, or remove the minority of corrupt individuals from the service, in a timely manner.”
