Officer sexual misconduct training 219/2022

FOI Reference: 219/2022

Request:

Please detail all training that is offered that relates to police officers' sexual misconduct. 

Clarification:  All officers within the police service, not just accused

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Addressing the Abuse of Position for Sexual Purpose (APSP).

Operation Mars, which is the Dyfed-Powys Police (DPP) response to addressing the Abuse of Position for Sexual Purpose, and was first launched in 2017.

The purpose of the campaign was threefold:

1. To raise awareness of the standards of professional behaviour.

2. To raise awareness on how to spot the signs of APSP and how to report concerns.

3. To allow the Anti-Corruption Unit to have clear processes in place to investigate officers and staff who may have abused their powers.

Sexual Misconduct including Abuse of Position for Sexual Purpose and Sexual Harassment in the workplace or any form of inappropriate or sexualised behaviour remains a strategic priority for PSD. Regular and effective training, briefings and communication has been achieved through a variety of channels and is ongoing.

DPP Training and Briefing Undertaken:

2017/2018

Launch of ‘Operation Mars’. The marketing campaign consisted of:

• All User Email
• Partner Agency Briefings
• Posters and screen savers
• Podcast delivered by the Deputy Chief Constable
• Inputs to New Starters and Sergeants
• Dissemination of the NPCC Official Video

2020-2022 (and ongoing)

• Internal awareness campaign (Op Mars Refresh in 2021) which has included an endorsement by the DCC via a Refreshed Podcast by New Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) (Target Audience: All DPP Staff and Officers)
• Publication of the new Nationally Approved National Police Crime Commissioner (NPCC) APSP Sketchup via the Force Intranet (Target Audience: All DPP Staff and Officers)
• Publication of the Sexual Harassment Sketchup via the Force Intranet (Target Audience: All DPP Staff and Officers)
• Further Partner Agency Briefings (via email 2020-2021 due to covid), containing a link to the Sketchups Video and dissemination of (new) DCC Podcast
• (2020-2021) Personalised Supervisor briefings (*Target audience was all operational Supervisors – 170 individuals) (and training inputs (via phone / email or both) to all operational supervisors requesting that they in turn brief their staff on APSP.
• They were instructed to:
  • Watch the DCC Podcast and APSP and Sexual harassment in the Workplace Sketchups Video
  • Reiterate key messages to staff - APSP Definitions, warning signs, professional boundaries
  • Reiterate the strapline: “you don’t have to be certain, just concerned”
  • Remind staff on how to identify and report sexual harassment
  • Reminded of confidential reporting mechanisms: Bad Apple, through a Supervisor, Crime Stoppers, email direct to Anti-Crime Unit etc
  • Remind on requirement to undertake Annual Integrity Health Check
• Ongoing Professional Standards Department (PSD) Training Inputs to new Supervisors (where an input is given on Operation Mars and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace) – these briefings are ongoing. The last was given in March 2022 to 13 newly promoted Sergeants. All of the sessions delivered by our Professional Standards Department have a section on inappropriate sexualised behaviour or language.
• PSD Inputs / Webinars covering several topics and acceptable professional boundaries e.g. sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, not engaging on social media, not handing over personal contact details. (The first webinar held in the Autumn of 2021 had an audience of 200 and the Senior Management Team (SMT) covered questions live time).
• Continue to encourage anonymised reporting – ensure availability/promotion of anonymous reporting avenues. The Bad Apple Reporting System is currently being re-designed and the new product with enhanced functionality will launch within the first half of 2022.

Please also see:

NPCC national strategy to address the issue of Police officers who abuse their position for a sexual purpose - https://www.npcc.police.uk/documents/Abuse%20of%20position%20for%20sexual%20purpose%20National%20Strategy.pdf

College of Policing Integrity & Transparency Guidance - https://www.college.police.uk/ethics/integrity-and-transparency

Peel Spotlight Report: Abuse of position for a sexual purpose - https://assets-hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/uploads/peel-spotlight-report-abuse-of-position-for-a-sexual-purpose-1.pdf                                          

It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 07/04/2022)