Page 10 - WMPF Federation FebMar2021-Hi_Neat

Conduct update

Force moving in the

right direction with new

conduct regs – but

more needs to be done

he Force is making slow progress in for the limited use of RP is that many
embedding the culture of learning and managers simply don’t know how or when
Tdevelopment that was at the heart of to implement the new regs or understand
the new conduct regulations when they were where or why RP may be applicable.
launched a year ago, says the Federation’s “I can’t see any evidence as to the ethos
conduct lead. of the new regulations being fully embedded
But George McDonnell, while and neither can the rest of the Federation’s
acknowledging the progress that has been conduct reps. This is because the evidence is
made, says Reflective Practice (RP) is not used just not there,” he explains.
anywhere near as much as the Federation “A better understanding of RP is vital as
feels it should be and that more training on is training for both managers and officers.
the new regulations is needed for both This would include education around
managers and officers. accepting we sometimes get it wrong and it
“I do believe the Force is making slow is OK to admit that and make it right.
progress but I have to emphasise the word “Being more open to change is key and
slow,” George explains. messaging around RP would be helpful as
“The new conduct regulations came into officers still feel the use of the misconduct
play in February 2020 and the request for stick is still in play.”
these to be used or in the spirit of learning Despite the need for this training and
and development rather than sanction and the slow progress to date, George
punishment was made a considerable time acknowledges that there have been
before then. improvements in terms of Force support for
“However, despite that, last year was our officers’ wellbeing and also with updates,
busiest on record in terms of the service of though again he feels this still needs to go
Regulation Notices and conduct proceedings. further.
“There was, on the whole, little evidence George McDonnell, the Federation’s conduct He adds: “There have been
that RP was used anywhere near as much as lead. improvements with communications
we believe it should have been.” coming from both the Professional
The new regulations give officers the warning. Low-level outcomes were removed. Standards Department and the Independent
chance to undertake RP with their line The harsher outcomes would then be Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Again, the
manager if their performance requires balanced by the fact that more officers hope is this will continue and this can only
improvement. This enables a discussion to would be diverted away from the conduct be a positive.”
take place around how the issue can be area and only more serious matters would In terms of an overall rating for progress
avoided in the future. The overall aim is that be escalated. with the new regs, George awards a four or
what happened is accepted, lessons are Where RP has been used, George says five out of 10 and says both PSD and the
learned and then people can move forward. officers have benefited in terms of their IOPC need to embody RP far more often than
It should eliminate the need for punitive matter having been dealt with expediently, they are doing right now.
action for minor issues. hence saving them the stress of having to go He concluded: “My wishlist would be a
As well as introducing RP, the new regs through the misconduct process. more confident approach in dealing with RP
also introduced a higher threshold for The Federation is continuing to push for with managers taking the time to deal with
disciplinary action meaning that conduct RP to be used where it believes it should the situations placed before them by their
proceedings should only be triggered if the have been implemented. officers and not looking to deal with so
wrongdoing warrants at least a written But, George believes part of the reason many of these at the higher level.”

10 federation February/March 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids