United Kingdom, 600 policemen fired for negligence in one year

(ANSA) – LONDON, 05 NOV – Nearly 600 officers have been dismissed for negligence or misconduct in England and Wales over the course of a year, with the British police struggling to rebuild public trust after a series of scandals. Data from the College of Policing shows that dismissals increased by 50% between April 2023 and March 2024, bringing the number of officers made redundant to 593. These included 74 cases of sexual assault or other sexual misconduct, 18 cases of possession of child pornographic images and 71 discriminatory behaviour. “Dishonesty” in the functions performed is the main cause of dismissals (125 cases). In 66 cases the dismissal was motivated by the revelation of confidential information or unauthorized access to such data. The reputation of the English police was deeply damaged by the March 2021 abduction, rape and murder of 33-year-old Londoner Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, a member of the force sentenced to life in prison. About two years later London police officer David Carrick was also sentenced to life imprisonment for dozens of rapes and other sexual assaults on 12 women over a period of about twenty years. In addition to these high-profile cases, several reports have exposed racist, homophobic and misogynistic behavior within the English police force, with many voices calling for reform. (HANDLE).