Police determined to root out those who undermine the integrity of the service

ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde said:

"Today's polls on policing by Sky News show more than half of the 1,005 people questioned, have trust in the police and that hasn’t changed over the last five years.

"On the measures that matter to people – how police respond to a report of crime and how people feel they would be treated by police as a victim of crime – trust is high; 72 per cent and 63 per cent.

“It is of course a concern that half of those surveyed by Sky felt forces would try to cover up individual officers' misconduct. There are 130,000 serving officers in England and Wales, and yes, there are some who have let themselves and the service down, and that is unacceptable."

"We respond robustly to misconduct; professional standards departments and anti-corruption units are carrying out more investigations than ever. This, however, isn’t a sign of a rise in misconduct but of a proactive approach and determination to root out officers who undermine the excellent work and integrity of the majority of their colleagues; police officers, staff and volunteers.

"We are also more open than ever, and many forces now publish the outcomes of misconduct proceedings on their websites.

“Police officers across the country will continue to focus on what matters most to the public – driving down crime and tackling local problems.

"It's important to point out that relationships between frontline officers and their communities remain strong - a result of excellent and dedicated service."

Sky News coverage - http://news.sky.com/story/1196380/police-cover-up-wrongdoing-most-britons-say

ITV News coverage - http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-01-16/majority-of-britons-trust-the-police/

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk