There are ‘normally’ anywhere between 25 and 30 Police officers across Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary who are suspended or on restricted duties while under investigation, it has been revealed.
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said ‘probably double’ this number are being investigated without a suspension or restrictions, at a Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel meeting on Wednesday (8th July).
She made the remarks in response to a question from Eastleigh borough councillor, Tonia Craig.
It comes after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last week said 2 constabulary officers are under investigation for potential gross misconduct after allegedly failing to recognise that murder victim Henry Nowak needed urgent medical treatment in the moments before his death.
PCC Jones said:
“I have a monthly meeting with the detective police superintendent who is the head of our police standards department who briefs me on officers under investigation, what they’re under investigation for and then the timeliness of them.
“Those that are under investigation for over 12 months are the ones that I’m particularly looking at – also if we’re still paying their salary. Some of them will be suspended, some on restricted duties – so they can’t have any contact with the public, but they can still do desk-based jobs.
“In terms of officers under investigation, particularly those that are suspended or on directed duties – the kind that are probably the most serious – it’s normally somewhere between 25 and 30.
Article continues below this advertisement “They drop off and come on each month depending on what’s going on.”
The Conservative representative said these figures were ‘very much akin’ to other police forces of a same size around the country.
Turning to those officers being investigated who are not suspended or on directed duties, she said the number was ‘many more’ and ‘probably double’ the previous category.
The PCC said there are investigations that are dealt with in 6, 8 or 10 weeks but added that others are ‘more complex’ and some will be dealt with by the IOPC.
Cllr Craig, of the Liberal Democrats, said:
“We’ve got to remember the feeling out there. You hear: ‘what’s the point of getting the police involved, they’re all corrupt?’ I’m not saying that – that’s what I hear.
“We need to make sure we’re doing these things as quickly as possible and not giving them money for not doing a job.”
Very concerning.
Is anyone surprised I’m not some are not very nice people changing the subject who’s been on a diet must be the size of the salary
At least half of them will because they haven’t said the right thing to the great unwashed.
Exactly. We know why two are being investigated ( for being criminally woke), no doubt the rest are being judged for not being woke/brainwashed enough.
I agree. I recently had to give a witness statement on behalf of a copper. He was suspended from public duties as he ‘failed’ to use the ‘correct pronouns’ during a public altercation.
The criminal who committed the crime was so ‘my human rights’ because the copper hadn’t ‘respected their identity’ by using the wrong pronouns, and the criminal has now taken legal action against the copper.
The fact is, a butch female was caught stealing from a shop. My foot ‘accidentally’ got in the way, causing the criminal to fall, enabling the copper to make an arrest. During the arrest, the criminal injured the copper and other members of the public who intervened. It was during the arrest that she became more violent as the copper had referred to her as ‘Miss’ and ‘She’.
She too was, as you say, one of the unwashed.
Only recently, an elderly lady up North was continually being tormented by these youths, yet the coppers didn’t do anything. She had enough. One day, when ringing the cops, she said three words: ‘bomb’, ‘T’, and ‘M’. The squad turned up immediately.
I don’t agree with PCC’s role. After all, they are politicians; what do they know about policing? In addition, PCC employs people whose job is to E-Mail each other, with no improvement to local policing.
What a waste of money. The same goes for the role of Mayor.
What I want are cops on the beat who have the authority to police, arrest, and go home safe.
Oh, while it isn’t the Island, Katie Hopkins was performing in Leicester the other week. There was a small crowd of ‘Refugees Welcome’ and ‘Free Palestine’ brigade, campaigning against Katie’s show. The number of Police present acknowledged why there are never any coppers available.
Bring back Dixon-of-Dock Green-style policing. Coppers were respected back then. The uniform displayed respect, discipline, and tenacity. People looked up to coppers on the beat. They used to be everywhere.
Need to investigate some of the island judges considering how many paedos they let walk free from the court with a slap on the wrist.
Providing only one side of the story… there is the element of the double cherry whereby officers have been found not guilty at court by judge and jury and yet professional standards continue with their investigation, ignoring all evidence and court results. This is a very biased story and paints an incorrect picture of the current situation. PSD are not under an obligation to complete an investigation within a timeframe so maybe it is this department that needs inspecting and not questioning the salary of officers under investigation for over 12 months – Hampshire have lost three officers to suicide under investigation and the details are harrowing however police officers cannot submit complaints to the police against PSD or the force themselves. Hampshire are also under review by an independent agency due to these suicides and PSD investigations so maybe these needs re-highlighting to the public
Yes it really does. Sustained and on-going stress while under investigation needs to seriously looked at and a timeframe introduced. I can’t help thinking that the removal of PCCs would help.
There really should be an INDEPENDENT panel investigating these police officers. Those found to be guilty should be sacked immediately and their pensions paid to victim’s
Now, there’s good old common sense at last. That is too easy and straight forward, so it will never happen, sadly.
Shame on them.