PCC supports launch of national Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service
14.03.24 - Merseyside
Merseyside PCC and Merseyside Police have joined all forces and Police Commissioners in the UK to launch the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service, which will be run by the independent charity Crimestoppers.
The service was established to give the public an anonymous and confidential route to report concerns about criminal behaviour by individuals in policing. It will strengthen the Force’s capability to take action against those who are not fit to serve, a commitment made by Chief Constable Serena Kennedy and PCC Emily Spurrell.
The Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service covers information relating to officers, staff and volunteers who:
- Provide information or influence in return for money or favours.
- Use their policing position for personal advantage - whether financial or otherwise.
- Cross professional boundaries or abuse their position for sexual purposes.
- Abuse or control their partner, or those they have a relationship with.
- Engage in racist, homophobic, misogynistic or disablist conduct, on or off duty, in person or online.
Crimestoppers will take reports from the public about individuals employed by Merseyside Police, as well as any police force in the UK, regardless of whether the information relates to them whilst they are on or off duty, online or in person. Reports can be submitted online and telephone calls are free.
When people contact the service, they can choose to remain 100% anonymous, or can opt to leave their details if they are willing for the force investigation team to contact them directly.
Information received by Crimestoppers will be passed to Merseyside Police’s Professional Standards Department (PSD), who will assess it. The Force may then pass the information to specialist detectives to begin an investigation, take steps to safeguard someone at risk or in danger, or record the information to inform future investigations.
The service sits alongside Merseyside Police’s existing complaints procedure, and has been set up solely to take reports of corruption and or serious abuse committed by serving police officers, staff and volunteers.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: “We know that reporting to the police can be a daunting experience for some people, especially victims and particularly if the person you want to report is working for the police.
“This service provides a new, anonymous way of reporting and I hope that more victims will feel enabled to come forward so that Merseyside Police can take action.
“Reports against officers and staff are taken very seriously within Merseyside Police and this reporting service is just one of many reforms being taken nationally to strengthen public trust in policing.
“Merseyside Police are determined to build trust and confidence within our communities by finding and rooting out anyone who is not fit to serve the communities that we work so passionately to keep safe.
“We want to make sure that the right people are in policing.”
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy KPM said: “I want to reassure the communities of Merseyside that we take issues of police integrity and corruption extremely seriously. This new national service is an incredibly important and a welcome addition to the different ways that people can make reports about police officers and staff.
“The vast majority of our officers and staff at Merseyside Police show outstanding effort and commitment and are selfless in their dedication and bravery in protecting and serving the public with the highest levels of integrity.
“However, I want the public to know that any allegation made against a police officer or member of police staff is robustly investigated by our professional standards and anti-corruption units and action will be taken where necessary to remove them from our force.
“It’s what the public expects and deserves if they are to have trust and confidence in us.
“Understandably, trust in policing is currently very much in the public spotlight. Building trust and confidence in Merseyside Police in our communities is a priority and I am committed to ensuring that police officers and staff abide by the highest standards that our communities should quite rightly expect and demand.
“The new Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service is an important part of building trust in policing across the country and I want people to have the confidence to use this valuable new service.”
Reports can be made to the new service by calling 0800 085 0000 or online via Crimestoppers’. This service is only to report allegations of corruption or serious abuse.
