Nearly 50 West Midlands officers sacked or quit amid misconduct. Accusations are up, and new rules aim to speed up the process.
Twelve officers were actually fired. Thirty-seven others quit instead before facing dismissal. Police shared these numbers due to a freedom of information request.
Misconduct accusations are up each year. There were 210 in 2022, rising to 274 in 2023. Last year, they totaled 292.
These allegations varied greatly, involving discreditable actions, misuse of police systems, and sexual misconduct. The police are working hard to remove those that violate standards.
Craig Guildford, who leads on police conduct matters, spoke about this. He said chiefs want to find wrongdoers and encourage officers to report concerns.
New rules help find facts quicker now. They can remove or punish guilty officers faster, and innocent officers can clear their names too. Data shows firings happen after hearings; most would be fired if still employed.
More bad behavior will surface from taking this action. Each case is tough but shows commitment to upholding behavior standards. They will not tolerate those who do not.
In 2024, one officer got a final warning, and one officer was dismissed. Nine would have been, and eleven cases are ongoing.
In 2023, four got final warnings, and two had ranks lowered. Seven officers were dismissed, and sixteen would have been fired. Seven cases still need outcomes.
In 2022, two got final warnings, and four officers were dismissed. Twelve would have been dismissed, and two cases awaited outcomes. In total, 49 officers were dismissed or resigned instead.