Police officers are worried about coming under investigation ‘just for doing their job’, according to the leader of the Greater Manchester Police Federation (GMPF).
Mike Peake, Chair of the GMPF, said bobbies are in two minds about tackling violent criminals because of the heightened levels of scrutiny they are under.
He claims that split-second decisions can risk both an officer’s life and career: “Police officers should absolutely be held to account for their actions, but there is currently far too much scrutiny on everything we do.
“One of the biggest tools a police officer has to help keep the public safe is to lawfully use reasonable force. Just because someone resists or becomes violent when detained, that doesn’t mean that an officer has done something wrong.
“Quite often an officer will risk their own personal safety making a split-second decision to protect others and then find themselves on the receiving end of a lengthy IOPC [Independent Office for Police Conduct] investigation when someone complains.”
His words echo that of Nick Smart, the President of the Police Superintendents’ Association, who told the Daily Telegraph that officers are becoming more risk averse as a genuine error could potentially see them lose their job.
Mr Smart said the misconduct system should concentrate on corrupt officers rather those who make mistakes “in good faith”.
“Police officers have a range of tools to do their job, but those tools can only be used effectively if they receive the right level of backing from their Chief Constables and Government,” said Mr Peake.
“It’s about time that police officers who carry out an extremely difficult job get the support that they deserve.”
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