Policing Standards

Request Number: FOI/15885

Category: Discipline and Misconduct - Misconduct

Subject: Policing Standards

Request and Answer: 
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold information to which your request relates. The decision has been taken to disclose the following.

Request 1
What powers are open to the Policing Standards Board if an officer has been found to breach Policing Standards?

Clarification Requested:
Can you please clarify what you mean by Policing Standards Board?  Are you referring to powers that NIPB may have open to you after an officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct, or are you referring to the powers available to misconduct panels?

Clarification Received:
I really would like to know what can happen to an officer who is found guilty of misconduct after a misconduct hearing. I am assuming that is the powers available to the misconduct power. In particular I would like to know the impact on and officer’s pension if it was found that there was misconduct after investigation.

Answer 
If an officer is found to have breached the Code of Ethics, the following outcomes are available to the panel:

Misconduct Hearing:

• Dismissal without notice
• Dismissal with notice
• Reduction in Rank
• Extension to Final Written Warning
• Final Written Warning
• Written Warning
• Management Advice
• No further action

Misconduct Meeting:

• Final Written Warning
• Written Warning
• Management Advice
• No further action

Request 2
Will the Pension Service allow a Pension Sharing Order to be approved and implemented if disciplinary proceedings/investigations are ongoing?

Answer
Pensions Branch will calculate the pension sharing order and continue to follow any court instructions.