POLICE officers who \u201cact improperly\u201d for their own benefit could be charged with a new offence of police corruption \u2013 and face a jail term of 14 years.<\/p>\n
According to new proposals unveiled by the Home Office, the offence would cover cases in which a sworn officer \u201cacts improperly with a view to obtaining an advantage for themselves or someone else \u2013 or causing some form of detriment to someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers could also be charged with corruption if they are deemed to have \u201cfailed to act\u201d for a corrupt purpose \u2013 for example if they know a suspect did not commit a particular crime but hide that knowledge because they have a relationship with the guilty party.<\/p>\n
And it would also apply when an officer threatens to do something, or not do something, for an improper purpose.<\/p>\n
Monty Montgomery, secretary of Essex Police Federation, said: \u201cNobody wants a corrupt officer. Particularly police officers. We don\u2019t like bent coppers. But we had the legislation in place to be able to deal with them before this specific offence was being talked about. We don\u2019t need another offence to deal with corruption because we have perfectly good offences to deal with corruption. Misconduct in public office or the other criminal offences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new offence would carry a maximum sentence of 14 years\u2019 imprisonment and would apply to all officers of all ranks and special constables in England and Wales, as well as officers of the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.<\/p>\n
It would also apply to those National Crime Agency officers who have the powers and privileges of a constable, including NCA Specials.<\/p>\n
Home Secretary Theresa May announced plans for the new offence in March during her statement to Parliament about the outcome of the Ellison Review \u2013 the review of corruption surrounding the flawed investigation of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.<\/p>\n
It would supplement the existing offence of misconduct in public office and is being brought forward as an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.<\/p>\n
Policing Minister Damian Green said: \u201cWhere police officers fall short of the high standards we expect of them, it is right that the full force of the criminal law is available to punish and deter acts of corruption by police officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe the best way to do this is to create a new offence of police corruption, solely applicable to police officers, to sit alongside the existing offence of misconduct in public office.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrupt behaviour in the police should be deterred and punished so we can maintain their standing in the eyes of the public and underline the important work done by the overwhelming number of officers across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve Evans, vice chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), said: \u201cPolice officers and the PFEW do not accept or condone corruption in any form. We share the concern of the public that anyone guilty of such behaviour has no place in the police service and should feel the full force of the law against them.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice forces have robust and effective systems in place to weed out corrupt officers. In addition, the College of Policing maintains a register of the names of police officers dismissed for gross misconduct following a misconduct hearing as well as those who have left the service prior to appearing before a misconduct hearing for gross misconduct. We welcome anything that strengthens these provisions against corruption and corrupt behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n
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