Police: Accountability
(asked on 3rd December 2025) - View Source
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what sanctions are provided for in the Public Office (Accountability) Bill in response to serious wrongdoing by police officers.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill creates four new criminal offences:
Failing to comply with the duty of candour and assistance;
Misleading the public;
Seriously improper acts; and
Breach of duty to prevent death or serious injury.
Police officers may be prosecuted for any or all of these.
The offences of failing to comply with the duty of candour and assistance and misleading the public have a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
The seriously improper acts offence has a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. The breach of duty to prevent death or serious injury offence has a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.