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Avon and Somerset Police urged to review integrity checks
Avon & Somerset Police recruited officers who had criminal records or cautions, government inspectors found.
A report published on Wednesday by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HICFRS) judged that the force needed to improve inspections assessing the effectiveness of vetting, professional standards and counter-corruption arrangements.
The government inspectors said that of 37 cases it investigated on vetting new recruits over the three preceding their inspection, the force did not “consider identified risks or relevant risk mitigations” for ten of them.
And an applicant’s son had “serious criminal matters recorded on police systems”.
The report said: “The constabulary hadn’t recorded a rationale for its decisions in five of these cases.”
In response, Avon & Somerset Police said: “We recognise that our integrity is fundamental to the public’s trust and confidence in policing, and to our legitimacy to serve our communities.
“Between 2022-2025, we have invested significant resources, money, technology and some of our best people into our Professional Standards Department (PSD), Counter Corruption Unit (CCU), and vetting.
“We are grateful that the recent report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) acknowledges the progress we have made and highlights other areas for improvement, which will be invaluable in our journey to becoming an outstanding police service.”
Deputy chief constable Jon Reilly said: “We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome ongoing scrutiny.
“We know that maintaining integrity is a journey, not a destination, and we will not be complacent. Our communities deserve nothing less.
“Public confidence in police depends on officers and staff showing high standards of professional behaviour day in, day out.
“The vast majority of officers and staff dedicate their lives to keeping the public safe, but there is no place in policing for those who do not share our values.
“It is pleasing to see the report recognise we have adequate staffing arrangements in place to manage vetting demand, and we use a range of risk mitigation measures in conducting vetting checks.
“This helps prevent people not suitable to work in policing from joining the organisation in the first place.”
Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Main photo: Karen Johnson
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