Policy Proposal: Ensure Impartiality in UK Policing
Summary:
To maintain public trust in and ensure the impartiality of our police forces, it is essential that their focus remains solely on law enforcement. This proposal aims to reinforce that principle by clarifying the appropriate use of police resources and the conduct of on-duty officers.
Policy Points:
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National Symbolism:
- All police buildings, vehicles, and uniforms shall display or fly only the flag of the United Kingdom. This promotes our shared national identity, and ensures a consistent and universally recognised symbol of national service.
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Police Branding:
- All police property, including but not limited to vehicles, uniforms, ID lanyards, and stationery, shall display only the official logo or branding of the respective police force. This eliminates any potential perception of endorsement of specific causes or organisations.
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On-Duty Impartiality:
- On-duty police officers are prohibited from participating in any protest, march, demonstration, or other event that could reasonably be perceived as political. Officers shall refrain from any on-duty behaviour that may be interpreted as political participation or endorsement.
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Restrictions on Social Media Use:
- On-duty officers shall refrain from posting or sharing any content on social media that could be perceived as political or as an endorsement of specific causes or organisations.
- Police forces should establish clear guidelines for off-duty social media use to ensure it does not compromise the perception of impartiality.
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Community Engagement:
- Police forces shall ensure that all interactions are conducted in a manner that maintains impartiality.
- Clear guidelines should be established to differentiate between community engagement and advocacy.
- Forces must maintain and publicise records of all engagement with external organisations, to ensure that no one organisation is unduly favoured.
- Police forces shall not negotiate policing style, approach or policy with “community leaders” other than relevant elected officials (e.g., MPs, PCCs, local councillors, etc.).
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Independent Oversight:
- Strengthen the role of independent oversight bodies, such as the HMICFRS and the IOPC, in monitoring and enforcing impartiality through the use of simple, unambiguous rules.
- Regular reviews and audits shall be conducted to ensure compliance with this policy, without creating undue administrative burden.
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Clear Definitions:
- The police will be provided with clear and concise definitions of terms like “political activity,” “endorsement,” and “impartiality” to ensure consistent understanding and application.
- These definitions will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect evolving social and political landscapes.
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Financial Accountability:
- Damages paid to any individual or entity arising from a failure of police officers or forces to adhere to these policies will not be paid from police budgets.
- Such damages will be recovered through garnishment of the pay of officers involved, including those in their chain of command, to ensure accountability.
Rationale:
- This policy reinforces the principle of policing by consent, ensuring that all citizens feel equally served and protected.
- It eliminates potential perceptions of bias or favouritism, enhancing public trust in the police.
- It ensures that publicly funded police resources are used solely for the purpose of maintaining law and order, and are not diverted to other causes (including the payment of damages arising from failure to follow policy).
- It ensures that police forces are held fully accountable for their actions.
