Agenda item

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner (copy attached).

The Committee considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner outlining the feedback received as part of HMIC’s integrity re-inspection and setting out the various mechanisms and systems the Force proposed to introduce in response to the recommendations made.

A Member expressed concern at the proposal to record all declined offers of hospitality, commenting that he personally received a large number of invitations which were declined and would require a disproportionate amount of time to record. He assumed that the Commissioner’s office would be just as likely to receive a high number of requests and thus, hoped that common sense could be applied to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.

With reference to the Member’s comments, the Commissioner recognised that the the Force and the Corporation operated in an environment which was very different from other places. He accepted that issue needed to be managed sensibly, although he felt strongly that it was important to keep a record of all invitations to ensure as much transparency as possible. 

RESOLVED: That the measures outlined in the report being introduced by the Force and the Committee to strengthen the mechanisms to monitor and manage issues concerning police integrity be noted and endorsed.