It should be illegal for a police officer not to report concerns about a colleague?

[GreatPotato]

For Safguarding in schools, its illegal for a teacher to "do nothing" if they have concerns about the safety of a child or the conduct of a colleague. They can be personally prosecuted.

Is it time to have the same for police officers. They must all know who the dodgy ones are. We know that in the case of Sarah Everard colleagues knew about some of his behaviour, even if they didn't suspect the extent of it.

There have been videos of police officers watching while their colleagues assault young black men.

Is it time doing nothing was a crime in these situations?

Mind you I'm not sure who's going to arrest them, which is funny but it at all funny and of course these reports need properly following up which doesn't seem to happen at present.

Such a change of culture required, even among those who I'm sure see themselves as the good guys.

The same rules exist in health and social care, but try raising concerns and see what happens. I have no faith in human nature I'm afraid.

Copying my post from another thread as think it is more relevant here:

I was really shocked reading comments last night that if a police officer reports another officer for misconduct, others will close ranks and refuse to provide back-up when they can for it in future.

Can you just refuse to go and help a colleague? I appreciate it means going to a high- risk situation but the fact it is so known that if you raise issues you are on your own is shocking.

Does that happen in other high risk professions? Can the fire service refuse to help another crew? I’m pretty damn sure you can’t in the army.

What sanctions can be imposed for someone refusing to provide back-up? Surely it should be a disciplinary? If not, why not?

The upshot is that the good people leave the force and the bullies and corrupt remain (and get promoted) and the cycle gets worse.

Its embedded in there culture I have zero faith in it because you would need proof

No you can't refuse to help a colleague

How ridiculous

I was a Met officer for years. These threads are so damaging. It's all played out over radio, can you imagine someone saying ' no im not going to assist, he's been reporting me for stuff, send someone else'

I was a Met officer for years. These threads are so damaging.

The recurrent failures of the Met are what is damaging, not the valid concerns of women and other vulnerable groups.

We need better protection for whistleblowers (and others reporting concerns, not all concerns would fall under whistleblowing). This is a big issue in health and social care too.

I read an article recently police whistleblowers in America who reported their colleagues for violence/rape/corruption. They were all fired/managed out and some faced worse retaliation. I know our police force isn’t quite as fascist as the US but police back police.

Google Maurice mccabe , he was a member of the Irish gardai(police) who was a whistle blower. What was done to him in retaliation for raising concerns is enough to put any whistle blower off.

@gardeninggirl68

No you can't refuse to help a colleague

How ridiculous

I was a Met officer for years. These threads are so damaging. It's all played out over radio, can you imagine someone saying ' no im not going to assist, he's been reporting me for stuff, send someone else'

It's not "these threads" making these suggestions, that was a report from a female police officer saying she was too scared to report colleagues for fear she wouldn't be supported when she needed it.

So, either it's happening or officers are using it as an excuse not to report colleagues. Neither is good.

@gardeninggirl68

No you can't refuse to help a colleague

How ridiculous

I was a Met officer for years. These threads are so damaging. It's all played out over radio, can you imagine someone saying ' no im not going to assist, he's been reporting me for stuff, send someone else'

What is damaging is that a serving Met police officer used the tools, privileges and trappings of his job to abduct, rape and murder a woman.

He strangled her with his police issue belt. I am not a critic of the police. But every time I see an officer on duty now, I will be looking at his belt, and thinking about it around Sarah's neck.