Northumbria Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner have joined all police forces in the UK to launch the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service, which will be run by the independent charity Crimestoppers. 

The service was established to give the public an anonymous and confidential route to report concerns about criminal behaviour by individuals in policing. It will bolster the Force’s capability to take action against those who are not fit to serve, a commitment made by Chief Constable Venessa Jardine and Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness.

The Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service covers information relating to officers, staff and volunteers who: 

• Provide information or influence in return for money or favours.
• Use their policing position for personal advantage – whether financial or otherwise.
• Cross professional boundaries or abuse their position for sexual purposes.
• Abuse or control their partner, or those they have a relationship with.
• Engage in racist, homophobic, misogynistic or disablist conduct, on or off duty, in person or online.

Crimestoppers will take reports from the public about individuals employed by Northumbria Police, as well as any police force in the UK, regardless of whether the information relates to them whilst they are on or off duty, online or in person. Reports can be submitted online and telephone calls are free.  

When people contact the service, they can choose to remain 100% anonymous, or can opt to leave their details if they are willing for the force investigation team to contact them directly.    

Information received by Crimestoppers will be passed to Northumbria Police’s Professional Standards Department, who will assess it. The Force may then pass the information to specialist detectives to begin an investigation, take steps to safeguard someone at risk or in danger, or record the information to inform future investigations. 

The service sits alongside Northumbria Police’s existing complaints procedure, and has been set up solely to take reports of corruption and or serious abuse committed by serving police officers, staff and volunteers.  

Maintaining and building confidence

Chief Constable Jardine said: “Officers, staff and volunteers must rightly adhere to the highest of standards at all times and we are absolutely committed to taking appropriate action when these are not met.

“It is important if we are to maintain and build confidence within the communities we serve, that people know how they can come forward and report any concerns they may have and in the knowledge these will be dealt with professionally.

“The overwhelming majority of people within Northumbria Police are committed to making a positive difference and providing an outstanding service – we are determined to ensure these efforts are not undermined.”

Swift and robust action

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Anyone who brings disgrace on the uniform has no place here at Northumbria Police and we are committed to rooting them out.

“It makes perfect sense that people can easily and anonymously report police employees whose behaviour falls short of the standards the public rightly expect.

“It’s vital everyone can trust officers and I’d add that it’s vital that officers and staff can trust their follow colleagues too – they can be left feeling equally let down by anyone who brings a bad name to their job and the hard work and bravery that goes with it.

“Whatever it is, abusive behaviours at home, racist attitudes of friends, anything that’s abusing the powers of the job, it’s totally unacceptable and it needs reporting. This new way of reporting helps swift and robust action to be taken against anyone who doesn’t deserve to be wearing that uniform and serving our communities.”