‘Police have lost their job if behaviour not up to standard’
VETTING of local police officers has been made more robust in the last two years and officers have been dismissed for failing to meet expected standards of behaviour, head of Law Enforcement Ruari Hardy has said.
His comments follow the whole life sentence imposed on former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, who kidnapped, raped and murdered 33-year-old Sarah Everard in the UK.
Mr Hardy described the crime as abhorrent.
‘The fact it was committed by a serving police officer has led many people to understandably, and rightly, question police services on behaviours and attitudes towards women and girls,’ he said.
‘While the repugnant actions of individual officers should not tarnish the many thousands of officers who support their communities every day, it is absolutely right that all police services, including us in Guernsey, are challenged on the issue of violence and intimidation against women and girls.’
He said it was important that more was done to ensure the safety of and respect for females.
This includes engaging with key stakeholders, both within government and with third sector organisations, and supporting locally-driven projects that are seeking to raise awareness of this issue to challenge and change behaviours.
‘We are also internally reviewing procedures, recruitment practices and ongoing training to ensure we are meeting the required standards,’ he said.
Following an inspection in 2018-2019 by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services, significant changes were made to the local vetting process for law enforcement staff to achieve more robust standards.
‘The standards of professional behaviour and conduct are made clear to all staff and should any information or evidence come to light that these very high standards are not being met, we will take all necessary steps to address it,’ Mr Hardy said.
‘This would include criminal investigations if warranted or disciplinary action – and it should be noted that officers have been dismissed in recent years for failing to meet expected standards of behaviour.’
A number of UK forces are working to record gender-based crimes, including misogyny, as hate crimes and the Home Office is seeking to ensure that all UK forces will be able to do this by the end of 2021.
‘Guernsey Police is currently engaging with UK forces and key partners to see how quickly this element can be added to our current crime recording systems, which are IT-based,’ Mr Hardy said.
‘This is work in progress and is being treated as a priority.’
Mr Hardy said while Guernsey remains a safe place to live and work, the island was not immune to serious crime.
‘We are also not immune to women and girls experiencing inappropriate behaviour, whether it be while on a night out, walking home after dark or in any other circumstance,’ he said.
‘As a service we will always encourage women and girls who come forward to seek our help and support.’
