UK government makes it easier to fire rogue police officers

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - The British government unveiled plans Thursday to make it easier to fire rogue police officers as part of an overhaul of the disciplinary process.

“In a move to ensure the public are getting the high level of professionalism and service they deserve from our police, speed up the process of removing rogue officers, and to restore confidence in forces, the government has unveiled a raft of changes to the rules governing officers’ disciplinary, vetting and performance processes,” said the Home Office.

It said the move follows a wide-ranging review of the police disciplinary system which was initiated following the conviction of David Carrick, who is spending 30 years behind bars for numerous serious sexual offenses committed while he was a serving police officer.

“Under the new system, a finding of gross misconduct will automatically result in a police officer’s dismissal unless exceptional circumstances apply, speeding up the removal of officers not fit to serve,” it said.

Commenting on the issue, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “The public must have confidence that their officers are the best of the best, like the vast majority of brave men and women wearing the badge, and that’s why those who disgrace the uniform must have no place to hide.”