Body worn video footage and whistleblowing

Meeting:

MQT on 2018-05-17

Session date:

May 17, 2018

Reference:

2018/0977

Question By:

Siân Berry

Organisation:

City Hall Greens

Asked Of:

The Mayor

Question

In the London Policing Ethics Panel report on body worn video (BWV), published in January 2016, one of the conclusions was: "there is no doubt that BWV has the potential to help uncover habitual or repeated unacceptable behaviour by officers: this should encourage appropriate whistle-blowing." In how many whistleblowing cases has BWV footage been used in evidence, and what was the outcome of those cases?

Answer

Answer for Body worn video footage and whistleblowing

Answered By:

The Mayor

Date:

Wednesday, 23rd May 2018

The MPS has a designated senior officer within the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) who leads on whistle-blowing matters.

In 2015 whistle-blowing policy was reviewed and this resulted in The Policing and Crime Act 2017 which introduced a new power for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate concerns raised by police whistle-blowers. It also enables further provision to be made by regulations to protect the identity of the whistle-blower.

Since 2015 there have been no whistle-blowing referrals which relate to, or have emanated from, BWV. However, BWV can provide invaluable objective documentation of an incident, and in the circumstances where clear BWV evidence is identified that indicates that a criminal offence may have been committed or a disciplinary matter may have occurred, a misconduct or criminal investigation will follow.