Response to HMICFRS ‘Abuse of position for a sexual purpose’ review
Detective Superintendent Jackie Alexander, College of Policing lead for Professional Standards, said:
“There is no place in policing for those who abuse their position or authority for a sexual purpose, and the public rightly expects everyone in policing to act with integrity.
“In 2016 the HMICFRS challenged the police service nationally to improve its response to this serious issue. This corruption, although rare, has a hugely detrimental effect on the public’s confidence in policing when it does occur.
“Today’s HMICFRS review acknowledges the importance of the College’s guidance on ‘Maintaining a professional boundary between police and members of the public’ in response to their original findings.
“This guidance complements the standards that are already in our Code of Ethics, and sets out broad principles to support officers with their decision making and responsibilities. It has been delivered to forces and is part of a wider strategy from the NPCC which continues to address this serious issue.
“We will consider the HMICFRS review of forces plans to tackle the issue, and use it to inform our thinking about how we can go further in helping forces implement their plans addressing the HMICFRS’s findings.”