Historical data wash results

Results of the largest integrity screening project ever undertaken in policing have been published today (23 January).

Nationally, over 307,000 officers, staff and volunteers have been checked against the Police National Database (PND).

This follows a decision made in January last year by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) for all forces in England and Wales to prepare their HR data so all officers, staff, and volunteers could be checked against the PND, a data store of operational policing information and intelligence.

We checked 4,029 Staffordshire officers, staff, and volunteers and are pleased to say no one has been referred for criminal or disciplinary action, management action or re-vetting. 

This echoes the results of the process nationally which have shown the large majority of our officers, staff, and volunteers are professional, dedicated individuals who act with integrity and work hard to keep their communities safe. 

We have a robust, intrusive vetting system which strives to ensure people who should not work in policing are identified before joining the force. In addition, our annual integrity review has been a helpful process in ensuring appropriate discussions can be held between managers and staff so changes in individual circumstances can be identified.

Building on the data wash work, the NPCC is working with the Home Office to consider a longer-term integrity solution for policing which will provide forces with a timely alerting solution to act on any information.

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Roy said: “Despite the effectiveness of vetting to prevent the wrong people from joining the force, we have seen, even recently, cases of officers and staff dismissed or face prison sentences for corruption, discreditable, and sexual misconduct. 

“We take a firm stance against these people as we recognise the privileged position those working in policing have. Communities should be able to trust us and have confidence we are using our powers for the purposes they are intended – keeping you safe. Anyone who abuses this position and falls below the high standards we all expect is dealt with swiftly and accordingly.

“Raising standards and improving our culture to root-out misconduct and inappropriate behaviour remains a key priority for us. I encourage colleagues to call out and report concerns, and we have several mechanisms for this to happen.

“I hope undertaking this process gives further reassurance to our communities, and assures them the overwhelming majority of people in policing can be trusted and there is also no place to hide for anyone involved in wrongdoing.”