Page 25 - WMPF Federation Magazine February / March 2018

IPCC needs to change more than its name

“A change in name is all well and good
he Independent Police Complaints but what is really needed is a change in and that they will listen to advice as this
Commission (IPCC) may have changed practice, in how they deal with complaints cannot simply be a name change – radical
Tits name, but not everyone is and their efficiency.” improvement has to be made for them to
convinced it will deliver changes in the way Recently the IPCC apologised to officers have any credibility.”
it investigates and deals with complaints. following a five-year investigation where He said an urgent meeting would be
John Tooms, the West Midlands Police they admitted they didn’t investigate or organised with the current Chief Executive
Federation conduct lead, said he is sceptical conduct matters properly and the complaint and the future Deputy Director General so
about the difference a name change will in to that – raised by Phill Matthews, the the federation can clearly set out its
make, especially as the regional lead conduct and performance lead for the Police expectations.
remains the same. It is now called the Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) Phill continued: “In the specific case I
Independent Office for Police Conduct – took six months to deal with, during which complained about, the IPCC admitted that
(IOPC). time they further apologised for not they let officers down by not investigating
The IPCC has been plagued by delays, meeting its own deadlines. this in the way it should have been and that
sub-standard investigations and poor Phill said the new IOPC had a chance to performance was not at an acceptable
service – often leaving officers and others in put things right and improve the way the standard. They also admitted they didn’t
limbo for months, if not years – before whole organisation went about its business, record or disclose material that they had a
enquiries were completed or dropped. after case upon case of bungled enquiries. duty to and the evidence collected in that
John said: “We have been raising “We have dealt with countless cases investigation indicated a lack of knowledge
concerns about issues with the IPCC for where delays for one reason or another have in some of the fundamental areas of the
some time. For example, in three recent happened, with cases not being finalised for investigative processes and in record
cases handled by the IPCC and involving months, sometimes years. The stress this keeping. This is just one case but it is not
West Midlands Police officers, no further puts on the officers concerned is isolated – time and time again we have been
action rulings were made and the three unacceptable – particularly when after all of dealing with bungled enquiries and it has to
individual superintendents involved felt the that cases are dropped because it is clear stop as it is affecting people’s lives and
proceedings should never have gone ahead. officers where just doing their job, or no impacting on their health.
“While it is right and proper that where evidence to the contrary has been “What is clear is that the vast majority of
there are cases to answer, officers are presented,” he explained. wrongdoing by officers is rooted out
investigated and any appropriate action “The new Director General of the IOPC internally by officers and forces themselves
taken. But what is not right is that people’s has a chance to put things right and set out anyway and of the most serious cases
lives are left in limbo and their careers in their stall from the off and I sincerely hope involving deaths, for example, an absolutely
“ breached the codes of conduct and even
that the failings of the past are recognised
tatters for months and months on end.
tiny proportion are perceived to have
A change in name is all well and good
smaller percentage of officers actually need
to be dismissed because of it. The question
we must ask is it really worth the huge
financial costs involved in this body to
in practice, in how they deal with
overwhelmingly act correctly in the vast
complaints and their efficiency. satisfy the public that our members
majority of cases?”
The name change came into effect on 8
January 2018.

New chair pledges to address members’ concerns
but what is really needed is a change “

The new national chair of the Police and your issues and voices will be versed and heard at the very highest
Federation of England and Wales has pledged echelons of Government and with the rest of our stakeholders.”
to address the issues affecting police officers Calum has been a police officer for 22 years, the first six of which
on a day to day basis at the front-line of he spent at Strathclyde Police, before moving to South Wales Police. He
policing. worked predominantly as a response officer, as well as a tutor
In his first address to members since constable and officer safety trainer. He also spent time in crime
taking over from Steve White on 1 January, management and community policing in Cardiff before returning to
Calum Macleod said he was looking forward response of promotion in 1997.
to championing the rights and voices of police He became involved in the Police Federation in 2011 and stood for
officers in ‘every avenue’ during his tenure. election as a sergeants representative for Cardiff. He then became the
“The last number of years we have been equality lead for the Joint Branch Board and the chair of the sergeant’s
focusing on our internal reform and I am glad to say that reform has board and held the position of regional chair for Wales.
finished and we can now focus all our time and energy on the issues He went on to become the general secretary and treasure for the
that matter to the membership,” he explains. Sergeants Central Committee from May 2014 until his appointment as
“I give you my assurance that the issues affecting police officers vice chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales in April 2016.
on a day-to-day basis at the front-line of policing will be addressed Ché Donald steps into Calum’s previous position of vice-chair.

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