Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 May 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 May 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Friday, 15 May 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police: Complaints

Question: (2) what definition of words of advice issued in a disciplinary context her Department uses; what representations on the definition she has received since June 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The Home Office does not hold a central record of outcomes of disciplinary action. This is a matter for the Chief Officer of each force.The phrase "words of advice" is not defined in the current disciplinary regulations (Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008), nor was it used in the preceding regulations: the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004.Under the previous disciplinary arrangements, the term 'words of advice' was used in the Home Office Guidance on 'Unsatisfactory Performance, Complaints and Misconduct Procedures' to refer to a managerial method for dealing with allegations of misconduct.Under the current regulations (the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008) one possible outcome from a formal disciplinary meeting is management advice. Management advice is defined in the regulations to mean "management action imposed following misconduct proceedings or an appeal meeting".

Secondary information