Officer arrest figures

Clarification on officers who have been arrested

Background:

In March 2011 Kent Police issued freedom of information data which was followed up in May 2011 when we received an enquiry from the Dover Express newspaper. A story was then published online by thisiskent.co.uk on 16 December 2011 which was followed up both locally and nationally. This data was also subject to FOI requests from the Telegraph and BBC in April and May 2011. This Freedom of Information data was published on our website in April 2011 and is available for all to view at kent.police.uk

The data referred to on this occasion shows all officers and staff who have either been arrested, charged or convicted whilst an employee of Kent Police. Of the officers shown in the FOI response, just 45 remain in the employ of Kent Police.

Kent Police issued the following statement:

This statement was given to media on 4 January 2012:

From 1993 to date, 45 Kent Police officers who are still employed, have been arrested, charged or convicted of offences.  All were also disciplined by Kent Police.

Of these, 42 officers were reported for traffic offences, 17 of these were for speeding, 11 for driving without due care, 5 for careless driving, 5 for drink driving, two for failing to stop, one for using a mobile phone whilst driving, and one for driving with expired insurance.

Of the three remaining officers, one was arrested for common assault and following court proceedings where they were given a conditional discharge, they were reprimanded by the force. The second officer was arrested for perverting the course of justice. This officer was bound over for two years by the court and reprimanded by the force as, following a false entry in a notebook, the officer had very quickly corrected it to reflect an accurate version of events. The third officer was arrested for a public order offence, fined £100 by the court and fined again by the force.

Kent Police's Assistant Chief Constable, Andy Adams, said: 'Any offences committed by police officers or staff are investigated in the same way as anyone else. We expect high standards from everyone representing the force and anyone falling short of those standards will be subject to scrutiny and dealt with by the courts where appropriate.

'In order that we remain open and accountable to the community we serve, this information is available on our website.'

The following statement was issued in May 2011:

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams said: "We expect the highest standard of behaviour and professionalism from our officers and staff both at work and in their personal lives. The vast majority of them serve Kent with the commitment and dedication our community deserve.

‘Kent Police investigates every alleged offence thoroughly and will always bring criminal and disciplinary action when necessary.

‘No-one is above the law and anyone who fails to uphold it must face the consequences.'

On 16 December 2011 the Dover Express reported the following online at thisiskent.co.uk:

The article stated that more than 175 serving Kent Police officers and staff had been arrested, charged or convicted in recent years for a range of crimes and alleged crimes, from soliciting a prostitute to kidnapping.

Data issued by Kent Police showed that serving officers have been convicted of criminal offences including affray, firearms possession, misconduct and drink driving.

'thisiskent’ stated that 178 serving Kent Police employees were arrested between 2000 and 2010, 165 officers and 13 police staff, and that many ended in a conviction and resignation, while others received conditional discharges or cautions.

It points out that there was a total of 249 cases, ‘some’ of whom are still employed by Kent Police.

Some of the ‘notable cases’ are mentioned, such as a sergeant arrested in 2008 who was later jailed for serious offences including false imprisonment and possession of firearms, a sergeant arrested in 2009 and later convicted of ticket-touting, and a constable who was arrested in 2006 and later jailed for perverting the course of justice.

The article does state that in all three cases, the officers involved were later dismissed from their positions at internal hearings and that the constable who solicited a prostitute in 2009 resigned.

Included is the staff member who was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping in 2005 and who was dismissed prior to the court hearing.

Also included is a statement from Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams who said that no one is above the law and anyone who fails to uphold it must face the consequences.

The article states that not all of those found guilty of criminal offences are removed from the force and that some reamin in service on the streets of Kent today.

Other media picking up this story were the BBC and Kent Messenger website (kentonline.co.uk). Headlines such as ‘175 serving officers and staff have been arrested, charged or convicted’ and ‘Kent police second in country for convictions’. Nationally, the Telegraph, Mail and BBC covered the story, with headlines that almost 1000 police officers in the country are serving officers with convictions.

For the record:

Kent Police would like to clarify that over the course of 18 years, from 1993 to date, 45 Kent Police officers who are still employed, have been arrested, charged or convicted of offences.  All were also disciplined by Kent Police.

Of the 45 still serving police officers, 42 were guilty of traffic offences, 17 of which were for speeding. Of the three remaining officers, one was arrested for common assault and following court proceedings where they were given a conditional discharge, they were reprimanded by the force. This officer had pushed someone which was considered inappropriate. The second officer was arrested for perverting the course of justice. This officer was bound over for two years by the court and reprimanded by the force as, following a false entry in a notebook, the officer had very quickly corrected it to reflect an accurate version of events. The third officer was arrested for a public order offence of being too loud in the street, fined £100 by the court and fined again by the force.

Kent Police takes standards very seriously, and it should be remembered that in every one of these cases, they were caught by their colleagues. We do not turn a blind eye to any breach of the law or professional standards. Just like all human beings, police officers sometimes make mistakes, and like everyone else, they are punished for it.

In addition to any court penalty, Kent Police also imposes its own internal disciplinary sanctions. These can range from final written warnings, to reductions in rank, fines and other management action.

Freedom of information data is accessible to all on the Kent Police website.

Kent Police is a transparent and open force, accountable to the community it serves.