Chief constables will soon receive new powers which will enable them to automatically sack coppers found guilty of gross misconduct or a criminal offence.
The new powers are aimed at removing hundreds of rogue police officers who are unfit to serve and create a “zero tolerance” culture at forces across England.
Chief constables will also receive the power to dismiss officers and immediately sack anyone who fails vetting.
Chris Philp, the policing minister, told The Times that rogue officers had “nowhere to hide” under the changes.
Chris Philp MP talks to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (right) at a meeting of the National Policing Board at the Home Office in London.
PA
The measures have been announced after the cases of officers such as Wayne Couzens and David Carrick.
Recent incidents, including Couzens' cruel rape and killing of Sarah Everard, negatively impacted confidence in the police.
A YouGov survey conducted a year after the incident in March 2022 showed the number of Britons saying the police are doing a good job fell from 75 per cent to 53 per cent in just two years.
Carrick is also serving a life sentence after abusing his powers for two decades to carry out rape and serious sexual offences.
Met Police chief Sir Mark RowleyPANew measures ensure England’s most senior officers will again chair disciplinary hearings.
Legally qualified chairs will assist their efforts and maintain their independence.
The Home Office confirmed there would be automatic dismisses for those guilty of misconduct and the most serious breaches of standards unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Central Government will also work with the College of Policing to draw up a list of criminal convictions which warrant automatic sacking.
Home Secretary Suella BravermanPAThere are also plans to make it easier for police chiefs to dismiss underperforming officers after Scotland Yard’s commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said that one-in-ten officers in the Metropolitan Police were unable to do their jobs fully because of performance and health issues.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “Corrupt police officers and those who behave poorly or fail vetting must be kicked out of our forces.
“For too long our police chiefs have not had the powers they need to root out those who have no place wearing the uniform.”
Rowley added: “Chief officers are held to account for the service we deliver and the standards we uphold, which is why I have been persistent in calling for us to have the powers to act decisively and without bureaucratic delays when we identify those who have no place in policing.”
Philp also said: “We now expect zero tolerance of criminal offending, all lines of inquiry followed up and visible policing on our streets.”
