Support services - Pre-election period policy (M02)

1. Summary of Changes

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in December 2023 - no amendments to content have been made. 

2. What this policy is about

2.1. The purpose of this policy is to give guidance to staff on how to conduct themselves during the pre-election period to ensure the force’s political impartiality is not called into question. This policy applies to all police officers, police staff, contracted staff and volunteers.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3. Statement of policy

3.1. The political impartiality of Kent Police underpins the legitimacy of the force to enforce the law and enhance the safety of all those within the county. The public of Kent need to be confident that officers and staff will serve them loyally and impartially, regardless of the political group in control. The period leading up to an election (local and general) is particularly sensitive and given the dominance of policing issues during any election officers and staff should carefully consider their actions and avoid acting in any way which might favour one political group or candidate over another.

3.2. Both the period from when an election is called and the period when an election is anticipated is a politically sensitive time and staff should be aware of the constraints on their activity.

3.3. The guiding principle for officers and staff of Kent Police should remain that we must refrain from undertaking any activity, either in person or online including on social media channels, that could call into question the political neutrality of the force. 

3.4. This applies to all elections including local, general, Kent County Council (KCC) and Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections. During the pre-election period all officers and staff must be politically sensitive when dealing with party political candidates and their representatives or supporters. This policy is intended particularly to assist divisional commanders and department heads in response to managing media and other requests.

3.5. There is no obligation on Kent Police to treat a political party’s candidate any differently to a member of the public. There is no duty to interact with candidates in the way the force would with an elected representative.

4. Consultation

4.1. Head of Corporate Communications

5. Monitoring and Review

5.1. The Head of Digital, Internal Communications and Marketing will monitor and update the policy as required. Monitoring to take into account:

• College of Policing guidance
• chief officers' (Kent) guidance
• legal considerations

5.2. This policy will be reviewed every two years. The policy is next due for review in December 2025. 

6. Related force policies or related procedures (Essex)/linked standard operating procedures (Kent)

•  M02a - Pre-election period (restricted for Kent Police personnel only)

7. Other source documents, e.g. legislation, APP, partnership agreements (if applicable)

None applicable.

8. Security

8.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

9. Retention and disposal of records

9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).