CUMBRIA Constabulary referred 39 incidents to the police watchdog in 2021 as a result of public complaints or as a matter of routine for further investigation.
A freedom of information request submitted to Cumbria Constabulary revealed that 31 officers were the subject of referrals as a result of issues such as excessive use of force or abuse of position.
All referrals are sent to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A referral is not an indication of guilt, misconduct or grounds for a requirement of learning, and 14 referrals came back as 'no investigation required'.
The police also have to refer to the IOPC as a matter of routine, such as if someone has had direct contact with the police prior to a death.
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The FOI revealed that eight officers were referred to the watchdog due to use of force; six for serious injury; six for abuse of position for sexual purpose; one in relation to a suicide; three for abuse of position; two for an adverse incident whilst in custody; two for a road traffic collision; two for discreditable conduct and one officer following a death after police contact.
One of the referrals was returned as a directed investigation and is progressing to a misconduct hearing.
Eight were subject to an independent investigation by the IOPC.
The remaining cases were deemed suitable to be investigated by Cumbria Police's own professional standards department.
A police spokesperson said: “Officers and staff of Cumbria Constabulary carry out hundreds of thousands of interactions with the public each year.
“They are held to an extremely high standard of integrity and professionalism and, where this standard is not met, they will be held to account.
“Full enquiries found no further investigation was needed in 14 of these cases and a further 16 were deemed by the IOPC to be suitable to be investigated by the Constabulary’s own professional standards department.
“Any complaint received will be subject to thorough investigation and any shortfall in professional behaviour will be upheld in line with Police Regulations.
“Officers and staff receive regular guidance on what is expected of them and all, as members of the Constabulary, sign up to a clear Code of Ethics.”
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