UK Police Shift Focus: More Staff Investigating Colleagues Than Monitoring Criminals

Recent data from the Home Office has revealed a significant shift in UK policing priorities. More police staff are now tasked with investigating potential misconduct among their colleagues than monitoring repeat offenders in the general population. This change reflects the ongoing efforts to address internal issues within the police force and restore public trust.

As of 2023, a record 3,493 personnel, including 1,752 officers and 1,741 civilian staff, were employed in professional standards departments. This figure surpasses the 2,654 employees monitoring dangerous and repeat offenders. The increase is particularly notable when compared to a decade ago, when only 828 officers and 637 civilians were assigned to these units.

This shift in focus comes in the wake of several high-profile scandals involving police officers. In 2021, the murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, a serving Metropolitan Police officer, shocked the nation. This was followed by the exposure of David Carrick, a multiple rapist who was also an armed officer for the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit.

The Metropolitan Police Service, the oldest police force in the world founded in 1829, has seen a particularly sharp increase in professional standards staff. In just five years, the number of officers in this department has nearly doubled, rising from 439 to 870. This surge comes after a report by Baroness Casey declared the Met to be institutionally racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and corrupt.

Kevin Moore, a retired senior detective who worked in Sussex CID and its professional standards department, offered insight into this trend:

"It would be interesting to see how many complaint or misconduct investigations are being undertaken now compared to the past. My guess is that these will have increased exponentially – [but that] could be argued as meaning that there is a greater willingness to identify misconduct. The alternative argument could be that there is more wrongdoing in the police service now than was previously the case."

The increase in internal investigations has yielded significant results. In 2023, 142 police officers were dismissed for misconduct, while another 210 resigned before facing dismissal. A total of 3,188 officers faced internal disciplinary proceedings, relating to 5,363 allegations of misconduct, including corruption, obstructing justice, sexual assault, and misuse of police vehicles.

The UK police operate under a unique model of "policing by consent" rather than by force, a principle established by Sir Robert Peel in the 19th century. This approach emphasizes the importance of public trust and cooperation, making the current focus on internal misconduct particularly crucial.

The National Police Chiefs' Council has reaffirmed its commitment to improving standards and culture within the police force. They emphasized their dedication to "lift the stones and rid policing of those not fit to wear the uniform" through strengthened vetting and misconduct investigations.

As the UK police continue to navigate these challenges, the increased focus on internal accountability represents a significant step towards rebuilding public confidence in law enforcement. However, it also raises questions about the balance between internal oversight and the core mission of protecting the public from dangerous offenders.