Home Office unveils new police corruption offence
11 Jun 2014 10:36 AM
Measure should improve
police integrity and transparency
Detailed proposals to create a
new offence of police corruption were unveiled by the Home Office yesterday
(Tuesday 10 June).
It would cover cases in which a
police officer acts improperly with a view to obtaining an advantage for
themselves or someone else – or causing some form of detriment to someone
else.
It would also be used when an
officer “fails to act” for a corrupt purpose, for example if they
know a suspect did not commit a particular crime but hide that knowledge
because they have a relationship with the guilty party.
And it would also apply when an
officer threatens to do something, or not do something, for an improper
purpose.
The new offence would carry a
maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.
Home Secretary Theresa May
announced plans for the new offence during her statement to Parliament about
the outcome of the Ellison Review.
It would supplement the existing
offence of misconduct in public office and is being brought forward as an
amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.
Honesty and
integrity
Policing Minister Damian Green
said:
The public expect the police to
act at all times with honesty and integrity. That is why this Government is
introducing a range of measures to improve the integrity and transparency of
the police.
Where police officers fall short
of the high standards we expect of them, it is right that the full force of the
criminal law is available to punish and deter acts of corruption by police
officers.
We believe the best way to do
this is to create a new offence of police corruption, solely applicable to
police officers, to sit alongside the existing offence of misconduct in public
office.
Corrupt behaviour in the police
should be deterred and punished so we can maintain their standing in the eyes
of the public and underline the important work done by the overwhelming number
of officers across the country.
Guidelines
The new offence would apply to
all officers of all ranks and special constables in England and Wales, as well
as officers of the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and the
Civil Nuclear Constabulary. It would also apply to those National Crime Agency
officers who have the powers and privileges of a constable, including NCA
Specials.
The Home Office will ask the
Sentencing Council to set guidelines for courts to use in cases involving the
new offence to make clear the starting point for sentencing corrupt
officers.