THE majority of Dorset Police officers found to have a case to answer for misconduct by the national watchdog ended up facing no further action from the force.

Since the Independent Office for Police Complaints (IOPC) was formed in 2018, it has published several investigations into the conduct of Dorset Police officers where it advised the force to hold disciplinary panels.

Across the three cases, the IOPC identified seven officers as having a case to answer for misconduct.

Ultimately, police disciplinary panels have the final say on sanction.

Analysis by the BBC Shared Data Unit found that five of the seven officers were cleared by the Dorset Police panel and faced no further action.

One officer was given management action, another was given a written warning.

No Dorset Police officers were dismissed at misconduct hearings held off the back of a recommendation to hold a panel by the IOPC.

Nationally, of 418 misconduct cases held by forces following an initial investigation by the watchdog, 64 per cent – 266 officers and staff – were found to have committed misconduct or gross misconduct.

In misconduct cases, panels gave 18 final written warnings, 57 written warnings, took management action in 50 cases and took no further action in 12 cases.

For gross misconduct, disciplinary panels dismissed 55 police officers without notice, gave 36 final written warnings and four written warnings.

IOPC guidance introduced in 2020 states that a misconduct case should be considered a disciplinary matter that would “warrant at least a written warning”.

IOPC director of strategy and impact Kathie Cashell said: “Out of 107 cases that went to disciplinary proceedings last year following an IOPC independent investigation, the case was found proven for almost 80 per cent of them. This is a clear sign that our investigations ensure officers are held accountable for their actions.

“In addition, of the individuals we determined did not have a case to answer for misconduct, almost half faced some other form of action to improve their conduct or performance.

“How officers are dealt with will depend on the facts of the individual case, no two cases are the same, and it is ultimately for those in charge of disciplinary proceedings to determine the appropriate sanction based on the information presented to them.

“While we respect the remit of disciplinary panels, we do not necessarily always agree with their conclusions. The IOPC and disciplinary panels will not always reach the same conclusion on analysis of what is sometimes a complex set of evidence and where different legal thresholds apply.

“Given the impact on public confidence, we have previously told the Home Secretary we would welcome a review of whether decision-making by police misconduct panels is suitably consistent, and in line with the College of Policing’s guidance on outcomes in police misconduct proceedings.

“We would also like to see those decisions and the rationale for them, are adequately transparent and being communicated effectively to the public.”

In a statement, Dorset Police's head of professional standards, Superintendent Paul Kessell, told the Daily Echo: "Dorset Police expects the highest professional standards of its officers and staff and we are committed to learning and improving from both local and national investigations and reports.

"We take on board individual and organisational recommendations to improve our service from both internal and external cases.

“We will fully co-operate with all investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and take any recommendations and findings very seriously.

"The recommendations are adopted and tracked through organisational learning to delivery to support force improvement.

“Where issues surrounding misconduct are raised or where standards have not been met, these are rigorously investigated in accordance with the relevant Police Conduct Regulations, Home Office and IOPC guidance. Police misconduct procedures are set nationally and the Force publishes information in line with these.

"The most serious cases are progressed for a misconduct hearing and every hearing has an appointed legally qualified chair (LQC) who is independent of Dorset Police. Similarly, every standards investigation will consider whether it is a criminal, gross misconduct, or misconduct matter.

“We recognise the need for officers and staff to be held to account and our Professional Standards Department and Counter Corruption Unit will thoroughly investigate any concerns or allegations of misconduct and ensure appropriate action is taken, whether these are raised by the IOPC or through other channels.

“Wherever possible, we will ensure this is done in an open and transparent manner as it is important that the public can see that we are taking these matters seriously and appropriate action is being taken when officers and staff fall below the standards we expect of them.”

Since its inception, the IOPC has received more than 4,000 referrals for cases in each of its three years and carried out 1,895 investigations.

Only 881 of those investigations have been published on its website. Many of the investigations cannot be published until appeals have been heard, inquests have concluded or, in a small number of cases, criminal proceedings have concluded.