WIREDGOV

The IPCC has found that four Northamptonshire Police officers have a case to answer for misconduct for their response to a report of anti-social behaviour in Northampton last year.

On 17 October 2015, six officers were called to a house by a man reporting anti-social behaviour by a group of young people against him, including arson threats.

Four officers spoke with the man and his family, and ended the visit by offering safety advice and advising him that they would make areferral to the local Safer Community Team. The officers did not record what was reported to them as a crime. The man was unhappy with the response and complained to Northamptonshire Police, which made a voluntary referral to the IPCC.

Our investigation looked at what the officers did with the information provided to them during the call-out, and whether or not they gave proper consideration to the alleged threats, in accordance with the correct policies and procedures.

Thanks to the availability of comprehensive body worn video footage and airwave recordings, IPCC investigators were able to thoroughly analyse the 40-minute-long interaction between officers and the man, alongside statements from witnesses and the officers.

The investigation found that the officers in attendance may have missed opportunities to take further appropriate action, including failing to record the arson threats as a crime. Had they done this, further inquires into the threats could have been made.

Northamptonshire Police has agreed with the IPCC findings. Two officers will attend misconduct meetings held by the force, and the other two will receive management action.