Number of police officers across Hampshire suspended while under investigation is revealed

There are ‘normally’ 25 to 30 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officers that are suspended or on restricted duties while under investigation, Donna Jones has said.

The police and crime commissioner (PCC) said ‘probably double’ this number are being investigated without a suspension or restrictions, at a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel meeting today (Wednesday, July 8).

She made the remarks in response to a question from Eastleigh borough councillor Tonia Craig.

It comes after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last week said two constabulary officers are under investigation for potential gross misconduct after allegedly failing to recognise that murder victim Henry Nowak needed urgent medical treatment in the moments before his death.

PCC Jones said: “I have a monthly meeting with the detective police superintendent who is the head of our police standards department who briefs me on officers under investigation, what they’re under investigation for and then the timeliness of them.

“Those that are under investigation for over 12 months are the ones that I’m particularly looking at – also if we’re still paying their salary. Some of them will be suspended, some on restricted duties – so they can’t have any contact with the public, but they can still do desk-based jobs.

“In terms of officers under investigation, particularly those that are suspended or on directed duties – the kind that are probably the most serious – it’s normally somewhere between 25 and 30.

“They drop off and come on each month depending on what’s going on.”

The Conservative representative said these figures were ‘very much akin’ to other police forces of a same size around the country.

Turning to those officers being investigated who are not suspended or on directed duties, she said the number was ‘many more’ and ‘probably double’ the previous category.

The PCC said there are investigations that are dealt with in six, eight or ten weeks but added that others are ‘more complex’ and some will be dealt with by the IOPC.

Cllr Craig, of the Liberal Democrats, said: “We’ve got to remember the feeling out there. You hear: ‘what’s the point of getting the police involved, they’re all corrupt?’ I’m not saying that – that’s what I hear.

“We need to make sure we’re doing these things as quickly as possible and not giving them money for not doing a job.”