Police Officers and police staff whether serving or retired are unable to make a 'complaint' concerning another police officer.
At present this is a loophole which is exploited by police forces to avoid having to record or investigate serious matters such as corruption reported by their own staff,
Police Officers and police staff are often not aware that they are unable to make a 'complaint' until it is too late and they find themselves heavily victimised.
Those officers unlike members of the public have no right to appeal to the Independent Police complaints commission if they find that their allegations have not been recorded or investigated.
This situation results in whistleblowers being heavily victimised with sometimes tragic consequences.
This also is likely to result in miscarriages of justice as officers as officers may not come forward to report wrongdoing having seen what has happemed top colleagues who have taken the step and reported wrongdoing.
There is no central register kept of policers who commit suicide and when complaints are made to the Home Office regarding the treatment of police whistleblowers; the advice given is to submit a claim to an employment tribunal rather than any positive action being taken to protect the officer and deal with with corruption or any other serious issues allegations which have been raised.
A simple amendment to the wording of the act would allow officers to be able to appeal to the IPCC of their allegations are not recorded or investigated, increase the confidence of both police officers and the public whilst reducing the number of suicides in the police service.
Indpendent Police Support Group
27 Old Gloucester Street
London WC1N 3AX