Integrity matters An inspection of arrangements to ensure integrity and to provide the capability to tackle corruption in policing January 2015 © HMIC 2015 ISBN: 978-1-78246-697-0 www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic Contents Glossary .................................................................................................................... 5 1. Foreword ........................................................................................................ 26 2. Introduction .................................................................................................... 31 Our commission ............................................................................................... 31 Methodology .................................................................................................... 32 Background ...................................................................................................... 33 Corruption – what the law says ........................................................................ 41 The law on corruption ...................................................................................... 41 Literature review on police integrity and corruption .......................................... 42 The public and police perspective .................................................................... 44 The public’s view of integrity and corruption .................................................... 44 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 50 Recommendations ........................................................................................... 51 3. Discovering, investigating and tackling wrongdoing ................................. 52 Professional Standards Departments and Anti-Corruption Units ..................... 52 Discovering wrongdoing ................................................................................... 57 Investigating wrongdoing ................................................................................. 67 Dealing with findings of wrongdoing ................................................................ 72 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 76 Recommendations ........................................................................................... 77 4. Misconduct and corruption – roles and responsibilities of other organisations ................................................................................................. 78 The role of the Independent Police Complaints Commission ........................... 78 The role of the College of Policing ................................................................... 80 Role of the police and crime commissioners .................................................... 81 2 5. Inspection findings - “Revisiting police relationships” – progress made by forces in responding to HMIC’s 2012 report ................................................ 83 Progress since 2012 ........................................................................................ 84 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 85 6. Inspection findings - The role of leadership in creating an ethical culture ............................................................................................................. 86 Leadership and governance ............................................................................ 86 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 94 Recommendation ............................................................................................. 95 7. Inspection findings - Policies and practices to promote integrity ............ 96 Systems for reporting wrongdoing ................................................................... 96 Gifts and hospitality ......................................................................................... 99 Business interests and other employment ..................................................... 100 Social media .................................................................................................. 102 Forces’ plans to incorporate the Code of Ethics in policies and procedures .. 104 Other force practices to ensure integrity ........................................................ 104 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 106 Recommendations ......................................................................................... 108 8. Inspection findings - Anti-corruption systems and processes ............... 109 Assessing the extent of corruption in police forces ........................................ 109 Preventing corruption ..................................................................................... 111 Gathering and developing intelligence ........................................................... 115 Investigating corruption .................................................................................. 118 Powers and tactics for tackling corruption ...................................................... 119 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 129 Recommendations ......................................................................................... 131 9. Focus on the outcomes of investigations into specific areas of concern ......................................................................................................... 132 3 Specific areas of concern ............................................................................... 133 Outcomes from investigations ........................................................................ 134 Criminal prosecution outcomes ...................................................................... 139 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 142 Recommendation ........................................................................................... 142 10. Capacity and capability of professional standards departments and anti- corruption units ........................................................................................... 143 Forces working in collaboration ..................................................................... 143 Resources in professional standards departments and anti-corruption units . 144 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 147 Recommendation ........................................................................................... 148 11. Corruption investigations by the Metropolitan Police Service ................ 149 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 153 12. Conclusion ................................................................................................... 154 Leadership and systems ................................................................................ 155 Outcomes of investigations ............................................................................ 156 Capability and capacity .................................................................................. 157 Next steps ...................................................................................................... 158 13. Summary of recommendations .................................................................. 159 Annex A ................................................................................................................. 161 Annex B ................................................................................................................. 166 Annex C ................................................................................................................. 169 Annex D ................................................................................................................. 179 Annex E ................................................................................................................. 180 Annex F ................................................................................................................. 207 Annex G ................................................................................................................ 208 Annex H ................................................................................................................. 219 4 Glossary ACC assistant chief constable ACCAG ACPO Counter Corruption Advisory Group now known as the National Policing Counter Corruption Advisory Group (NPCCAG) ACPO Association of Chief Police Officers actionable intelligence information that has been evaluated to assess its worth, and is assessed as being able to be acted upon, having practical value ACU anti-corruption unit allegation claim about the type of behaviour shown by a member of a police force resulting in a complaint; may be made by one or more complainants about the conduct of one or more people serving with the police force anti-corruption unit specialist team, usually part of a professional standards department, which gathers information and intelligence on police officers and staff suspected of corrupt activity