POLICE MPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL CASE, MEMBER OF POLICE STAFF REINSTATED

Claire (not her real name) is a member of police staff in a large police force and sacked for gross misconduct. However, she was reinstated after a tribunal unanimously decided she had been unfairly dismissed. 

 After I left my job, a colleague of mine mentioned CIPS run by former police officers and  I rang them. I really did not think they would be able to help me. 

My case was not related to whistleblowing or bullying. But they took a look at all the paperwork and went through it to ensure my case was dealt with properly. 

Claire adds: 'A barrister told me that the police would wipe the floor with me, but I felt that they could not do this and get away with it. By that time I had nothing to lose. 

A tribunal was scheduled and CIPS submitted a statement along with mine haviing reviewed the conduct of the Professional Standards Department (PSD).

I lost my confidence and there were times when I could not face going out. I did think about giving up with my case several times. CIPS helped me enormously in that they took the pressure off me.  Not only was I reinstated but the employment tribunal heavily criticised the police force, CIPS review of the misconduct investigation against me and willingness to challenge the police force undoubtedly resulted in  a positive outcome for me. 

DOMESTIC ABUSE. WE INTERVENED AND PREVENTED THE  PROSECUTION OF A DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIM

We were instructed in a domestic abuse case where the police got it wrong  and arrested the victim instead of the suspect. The police force concerned is Cheshire Contsbulary. although similar issues take place in most police forces. Domestic abuse is a specialist field where practioners will know that suspects can easiliy manipulate police officers.


This case highlights what can go wrong when inexperienced police officers are allocated more complex domestic abuse cases concerning coercive and controlling behaviour.


The police had been ignoring reports made by the victim who had two very young children  and had to go to the family court to apply for an occupation and non molestation order.


The suspect then made false and malicious allegations to retaliate. The police  then arrested the client at her home in the morning and took her to the police station where they also seized her mobile phone.She was bailed having been informed that the CPS would make a decision.


We acted proactively, identified that the victim had been unlawfully arrested and detained at the police station. we also identified that there had been no suoervision and that the  case file had never been sent to the CPS nor had the victim's mobile phone been examined


No further action  was taken against our client and the victim's phone was eventually returned. The police officer subsequently left the force. We are now assisting the client with making a formal complaint.