Commissioner responds to Government’s accountability announcement

A statement from Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley following the Government's announcement on police accountability:

“We welcome today’s announcement from the Government introducing important reforms to strengthen the police accountability system.

“These measures represent positive progress toward a system that is both fairer and faster, supporting the vast majority of officers who serve with integrity every day. The importance of these changes couldn’t have been demonstrated more clearly than by the acquittal of our firearms officer Sergeant Martyn Blake. He was a brave officer who acted in line with his training and faced immense danger to protect the public.

“Accountability of the law is critical, but the current system is protracted and unbalanced and fails to secure the confidence of the public and officers. Over many years this has created a culture where our officers are increasingly more worried about a skewed, imbalanced system than they are the dangerous criminals they face on the streets. If this continues, it risks making the public less safe.

“These reforms are a crucial and welcome step forward and we will now work with Government to deliver them at pace.”