Hampshire police failed to identify discrimination in cases

The force also failed to identify "the criminal aspect" of an officer testing positive for controlled drugs or sending misogynistic, homophobic, racist and other inappropriate 
messages on their mobile phone.

It was told that it needs to improve the way it responds to complaints and conduct allegations after it failed to identify elements of sexual misconduct and discrimination in cases.

A report found that 110 people were in or had been moved into designated posts without the requirement enhanced management vetting clearance, giving them access to sensitive information.

The investigation was made by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), assessing the effectiveness of vetting, professional standards and counter-corruption arrangements in Hampshire.

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It concluded that the force "needs to improve the way it responds to complaints and conduct allegations".

The force's vetting of police officers and staff was rated as "requires improvement" by HMICFRS, the second-worst on the inspectorate's five-tier system.

On "upholding the standards of professional behaviour" and "tackling potential corruption", Hampshire was rated "adequate", the middle of the five tiers. 

Allegations of police criminality were found in seven of 40 complaint and conduct cases investigated by HMICFRS.

In three of these, "the criminal aspect" was not identified.

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HMICFRS said: "These cases involved an officer testing positive for controlled drugs, an officer sending misogynistic, homophobic, racist and other inappropriate messages on their mobile phone; and an allegation of assault, aggravated by an element of discrimination."

The report also said the force is not identifying all sexual misconduct and discrimination elements in the conduct and complaint cases it records.

HMICFRS said: "Of the 40 cases we examined, 6 had an element of alleged sexual misconduct or discrimination. The PSD correctly identified and recorded it on three occasions, but in one sexual misconduct case and two discrimination cases it didn’t."

An enhanced management vetting is required for police roles that have access to "more sensitive information".

Some 61 people were moved into designated posts without the required enhanced clearance, with a further 49 people in posts despite their vetting having expired.

"Some of these had expired six months before we started our inspection," HMICFRS said.

The force was praised for producing a "comprehensive counter-corruption" plan which identified the main corruption risks, including violence against women and girls and police perpetrated domestic abuse.

Of 60 corruption files reviewed, 18 resulted in an anti-corruption investigation and the "standard of investigation was good in all 18 cases".

HMICFRS said: "However, we found two cases which had been waiting for the appropriate authority to make a final decision since April and May 2024 respectively. This is too long."

Hampshire police 'welcomes' the inspection

Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya said the force welcomes the investigation. (Image: Newsquest) Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya said the inspection was "crucial" in maintaining the trust and confidence in the force.

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She said: "We had already recognised and responded to the challenges around our vetting arrangements, particularly around ensuring we had sufficient resources to meet demand.

"Our ambitious recruitment programme to increase the number of police officers within force required us to also bring in more staff to carry out vetting checks.

"The report recognised our efforts to increase capacity within the team, and we have recruited a further 12 staff since the inspection."

She explained the report also recognised the good level of service provided around public complaints, "providing timely and meaningful updates" throughout the investigation.

She continued: "We are already working hard on the areas where we need to improve to continue to deliver the highest standards of policing for our communities."