Issue Guides

A complaint about your conduct can come from a member of the public, a colleague, or via the IOPC. The early hours and days…

A Regulation 17 written notice formally tells you that a matter is being investigated as potential misconduct or gross…

A Regulation 15 notice (or its 2020 Regulations equivalent) is written notification that a matter is being formally investigated…

Suspension is a precautionary management measure, not a finding of misconduct. It must be regularly reviewed. You retain pay and…

The Police Federation of England & Wales (PFEW) provides representation in misconduct, performance, grievance, criminal, and…

The police grievance procedure provides a structured way to raise concerns about treatment, working conditions, decisions, or…

Police officers can request flexible working under Regulation 33. Forces must consider requests fairly. Common options include…

Rest day cancellations and rest day working are governed by Police Regulations. Notice periods, pay enhancements, and the right…

Police overtime rules sit in Police Regulations and force orders. Understanding casual, planned, rostered, on-call, and recall to…

Leaving policing is a significant career step. The resignation process, pension preservation, references, and post-service…

Officer-initiated transfers between forces happen under Regulation 16. Vetting, pension continuity, pay protection, and probation…

NPPF and most internal selection processes rely on a Competency and Values Framework (CVF) evidence portfolio. Strong portfolios…

Burnout is a state of chronic exhaustion — emotional, physical, and mental — caused by prolonged exposure to demanding and…

Being involved in or witnessing a traumatic incident — whether a fatal road collision, violent attack, sudden death, or another…

Shift work — particularly rotating shifts that include nights — disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, the internal clock that…

The cost-of-living crisis has placed significant financial pressure on police officers across England and Wales. Pay restraint,…

Policing places exceptional demands on relationships. Shift work disrupts family routines. Exposure to trauma and violence can…

This guide is written with empathy and without judgement. Alcohol and substance use concerns are more common in policing than…

A well-written witness statement is the foundation of a prosecution case. This guide explains the structure and principles of the…

The pocket notebook (PNB) is a legal document. Entries made contemporaneously during or immediately after incidents carry…

Preparing and submitting a court file to the Crown Prosecution Service is a core investigative skill. Poor file quality is one of…

Digital evidence — from mobile phones and computers to cloud accounts and CCTV — is increasingly central to investigations. This…

Disclosure failures are one of the most serious and common causes of miscarriages of justice and collapsed prosecutions. The…

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (the Victims' Code) gives victims legally enforceable rights and places obligations on…