Reports and Discussion Notes
Commentary - The Police Foundation's Principles for Accountable Policing, and the creation of the new London Policing Board : Link
In April 2023 the Police Foundation published a report titled Principles for Accountable Policing. In the report, they set out a framework intended to inform the practice and structure of accountability in UK policing. The London Policing Ethics Panel has considered the salience of each of the principles for MOPAC and the MPS, and has suggested where there may be accountability opportunities and challenges for the new London Policing Board.
In April 2023 the Police Foundation published a report titled Principles for Accountable Policing. In the report, they set out a framework intended to inform the practice and structure of accountability in UK policing. The London Policing Ethics Panel has considered the salience of each of the principles for MOPAC and the MPS, and has suggested where there may be accountability opportunities and challenges for the new London Policing Board.
Report on Openness and Transparency in the Metropolitan Police Service - April 2023 : Link
The latest report from the London Policing Ethics Panel considers aspects of openness and transparency in the Metropolitan Police Service. The Panel's purpose in the report is to support the MPS’s current programme of cultural renewal. The report discusses the ethical significance of secrets, transparency and openness in policing. It describes two case studies that it carried out to explore openness and transparency in practice. The first of these looked at how the MPS manages openness and transparency in the conduct of searches of adults exposing intimate parts (that report is provided below). The second looked at managing openness and transparency in relationships between the MPS and local government. The Panel reviewed research on openness and transparency initiatives in policing and drew out four ‘cautionary tales’ about how these can fail to deliver as intended.
A set of slides summarising the report : link
The latest report from the London Policing Ethics Panel considers aspects of openness and transparency in the Metropolitan Police Service. The Panel's purpose in the report is to support the MPS’s current programme of cultural renewal. The report discusses the ethical significance of secrets, transparency and openness in policing. It describes two case studies that it carried out to explore openness and transparency in practice. The first of these looked at how the MPS manages openness and transparency in the conduct of searches of adults exposing intimate parts (that report is provided below). The second looked at managing openness and transparency in relationships between the MPS and local government. The Panel reviewed research on openness and transparency initiatives in policing and drew out four ‘cautionary tales’ about how these can fail to deliver as intended.
A set of slides summarising the report : link
Report on Conduct of Searches Exposing Intimate Parts by the Metropolitan Police Service - September 2022 : link
The London Policing Ethics Panel is carrying out a project looking at openness and transparency in the Metropolitan Police Service. As part of its work, the Panel is examining police searches exposing intimate parts and strip searches in custody, because these demonstrate important aspects of openness and transparency. The Panel is publishing this interim report in response to current public interest in searches exposing intimate parts, which have in part been prompted by the publication of the Child Q report.
The report contains nine recommendations for the Met Police. In their response to the report (published below), the MPS has welcomed the report and accepted the recommendations.
Met Police Response - November 2022 : link
The London Policing Ethics Panel is carrying out a project looking at openness and transparency in the Metropolitan Police Service. As part of its work, the Panel is examining police searches exposing intimate parts and strip searches in custody, because these demonstrate important aspects of openness and transparency. The Panel is publishing this interim report in response to current public interest in searches exposing intimate parts, which have in part been prompted by the publication of the Child Q report.
The report contains nine recommendations for the Met Police. In their response to the report (published below), the MPS has welcomed the report and accepted the recommendations.
Met Police Response - November 2022 : link
Ethical Foundations for Policing Policy Development: An Ethics Matrix - March 2022 : link
During the development of the 2022 – 2025 Police and Crime Plan for London, the London Policing Ethics Panel sought to develop ethical principles that could underpin the prioritisation of police and crime policy commitments. It became apparent that developing an ethical framework that could supply a definitive answer to questions about what should be done, and - more importantly when resources are limited - what should not be done, was an implausible aim. However, the Panel concluded that it is both desirable and possible to articulate the ethical foundations informing a Police and Crime Plan, both as a whole and in specific areas of action. It has developed and ‘bench tested’ an ethical framework that appears to be a useful aid to policy development in the discrete areas that London’s Police and Crime Plan addresses. This report summarises the model and the ethical principles that underpin it. It also sets out a worked example of how the model can be applied to one area of policy, the Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.
During the development of the 2022 – 2025 Police and Crime Plan for London, the London Policing Ethics Panel sought to develop ethical principles that could underpin the prioritisation of police and crime policy commitments. It became apparent that developing an ethical framework that could supply a definitive answer to questions about what should be done, and - more importantly when resources are limited - what should not be done, was an implausible aim. However, the Panel concluded that it is both desirable and possible to articulate the ethical foundations informing a Police and Crime Plan, both as a whole and in specific areas of action. It has developed and ‘bench tested’ an ethical framework that appears to be a useful aid to policy development in the discrete areas that London’s Police and Crime Plan addresses. This report summarises the model and the ethical principles that underpin it. It also sets out a worked example of how the model can be applied to one area of policy, the Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.
Review of Special Case Hearings - February 2021 : link
Following an invitation from the MPS, the Panel carried out a review of cases of gross misconduct that had been decided through Special Case Hearings. The purpose of the review was 'to consider whether MPS is doing all that a reasonable organisation can be expected to do to prevent overtly unlawful or unethical behaviours'.
Following an invitation from the MPS, the Panel carried out a review of cases of gross misconduct that had been decided through Special Case Hearings. The purpose of the review was 'to consider whether MPS is doing all that a reasonable organisation can be expected to do to prevent overtly unlawful or unethical behaviours'.
Discussion Note: Ethical Considerations Relating to Public Consultation and Engagement - September 2020 : link
This discussion note aims to contribute to work in the Mayor' s Office for Policing and Crime and the Metropolitan Police Service responding to equity issues raised both by Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter.
This discussion note aims to contribute to work in the Mayor' s Office for Policing and Crime and the Metropolitan Police Service responding to equity issues raised both by Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter.
Discussion Note: Ethical Considerations to Guide Recovery and Renewal following Black Lives Matter Protests and Coronavirus - June 2020 : link
This report is offered to MOPAC and MPS to support their deliberations on how to respond to the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter protests, in the context of continuing challenges around policing public health during the coronavirus pandemic.
This report is offered to MOPAC and MPS to support their deliberations on how to respond to the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter protests, in the context of continuing challenges around policing public health during the coronavirus pandemic.
Final Report on Live Facial Recognition - May 2019 : link
Facial recognition technology is one of a potentially larger set of tools associated with the deployment of new digital technologies in policing contexts. Since 2016 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), along with other police services, has been trialling a specific form of Live Facial Recognition (LFR). These trials have attracted attention from the press and public, raising important questions about the power of new digital technologies, how they are tested in the field, and their potential to impact on the relationship between police and civil society. This Report builds upon our earlier Interim
Report. Here we:
Facial recognition technology is one of a potentially larger set of tools associated with the deployment of new digital technologies in policing contexts. Since 2016 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), along with other police services, has been trialling a specific form of Live Facial Recognition (LFR). These trials have attracted attention from the press and public, raising important questions about the power of new digital technologies, how they are tested in the field, and their potential to impact on the relationship between police and civil society. This Report builds upon our earlier Interim
Report. Here we:
- report the views of Londoners on use of Live Facial Recognition, as gathered through our survey;
- propose an ethical framework to adopt in future police technology trials;
- set out conditions the Panel views as reasonable to attach to adoption of LFR in policing operations;
- share an ethical thought-experiment exploring the implications of increased police surveillance.
Ethical Considerations for MPS Revenue Generation - April 2019 : link
The London Policing Ethics Panel provided a view to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the MPS's processes for considering the ethical aspects of opportunities for revenue generation.
The London Policing Ethics Panel provided a view to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the MPS's processes for considering the ethical aspects of opportunities for revenue generation.
Interim Report on Live Facial Recognition - July 2018 : link
Facial recognition technology is one of a potentially larger set of tools associated with emerging digital policing technologies. This report specifically concerns Live Facial Recognition technology (LFR), which is the realtime application of facial recognition technology in a public space. The Metropolitan Police Service was trialling a specific form of LFR. The Panel is issuing this Interim Report in order to comment on the current trials of LFR, and also to provide an indication of further ethical issues that it believes should be considered before LFR is adopted more widely.
Facial recognition technology is one of a potentially larger set of tools associated with emerging digital policing technologies. This report specifically concerns Live Facial Recognition technology (LFR), which is the realtime application of facial recognition technology in a public space. The Metropolitan Police Service was trialling a specific form of LFR. The Panel is issuing this Interim Report in order to comment on the current trials of LFR, and also to provide an indication of further ethical issues that it believes should be considered before LFR is adopted more widely.
Police Encounters with the Public - Second Report: Vehicle Stops - April 2016 : link
This report is about the stopping of vehicles by officers of the MPS. In our first report on police encounters with the public, which considered stop-and-search procedures, we drew attention to the fact that the stopping of vehicles, though in many ways similar to stop-and-search police encounters with pedestrians, was subject to less scrutiny and accountability and that the conduct of traffic stops needed urgent attention. In this report we assess the law and practice governing vehicle stops, we consider to what extent officers are accountable for their actions, and we recommend changes to improve transparency.
This report is about the stopping of vehicles by officers of the MPS. In our first report on police encounters with the public, which considered stop-and-search procedures, we drew attention to the fact that the stopping of vehicles, though in many ways similar to stop-and-search police encounters with pedestrians, was subject to less scrutiny and accountability and that the conduct of traffic stops needed urgent attention. In this report we assess the law and practice governing vehicle stops, we consider to what extent officers are accountable for their actions, and we recommend changes to improve transparency.
Body Worn Video - January 2016 : link
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), along with a number of other forces, has conducted operational trials of Body-Worn Video (BWV) technology, with a view to wider roll-out of the system across the service as a whole early in 2016. BWV consists of a miniature lapel-worn camera which, when activated, records audio and video footage of a police officer's encounters with others. The product of such recordings is uploaded at the end of each shift of duty onto a secure server and retained for a specified period of time. It can be drawn on to establish the facts of specific encounters and, if and when necessary, to support criminal proceedings. BWV provides an additional window onto the conduct of policing and, where necessary, can supply reliable data for use in considering complaints against officers or in pursuing criminal proceedings. As such it has the potential to improve both the transparency of policing and the detection of crime. It does, however, raise some important ethical issues which we consider in this report.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), along with a number of other forces, has conducted operational trials of Body-Worn Video (BWV) technology, with a view to wider roll-out of the system across the service as a whole early in 2016. BWV consists of a miniature lapel-worn camera which, when activated, records audio and video footage of a police officer's encounters with others. The product of such recordings is uploaded at the end of each shift of duty onto a secure server and retained for a specified period of time. It can be drawn on to establish the facts of specific encounters and, if and when necessary, to support criminal proceedings. BWV provides an additional window onto the conduct of policing and, where necessary, can supply reliable data for use in considering complaints against officers or in pursuing criminal proceedings. As such it has the potential to improve both the transparency of policing and the detection of crime. It does, however, raise some important ethical issues which we consider in this report.
Police Encounters with the Public - First Report: Routine, Non-Covert Encounters - July 2015 : link
In this report we address the quality of everyday police encounters with the public in London. We discuss possible improvements to accountability mechanisms, including procedures for recording routine encounters and for dealing with complaints, before addressing the most significant type of everyday encounter - Stop and Search. This latter has been a controversial feature of policing in London and other parts of the country, and it highlights many of the ethical tensions in play when an officer of the law initiates an encounter with a member of the public. We believe that the Metropolitan Police has made progress on Stop and Search and that more progress can be made.
At the end of our report we focus on two ethical dimensions of Stop and Search that have not yet been discussed. First, we consider how both the police and the people of London themselves might reflect on Stop and Search from each other's perspectives and thereby better understand each other's concerns. Second, we draw attention to an important aspect of the justification for Stop and Search that the Met has not yet begun to address - what we have called 'oblique policing goals'.
In this report we address the quality of everyday police encounters with the public in London. We discuss possible improvements to accountability mechanisms, including procedures for recording routine encounters and for dealing with complaints, before addressing the most significant type of everyday encounter - Stop and Search. This latter has been a controversial feature of policing in London and other parts of the country, and it highlights many of the ethical tensions in play when an officer of the law initiates an encounter with a member of the public. We believe that the Metropolitan Police has made progress on Stop and Search and that more progress can be made.
At the end of our report we focus on two ethical dimensions of Stop and Search that have not yet been discussed. First, we consider how both the police and the people of London themselves might reflect on Stop and Search from each other's perspectives and thereby better understand each other's concerns. Second, we draw attention to an important aspect of the justification for Stop and Search that the Met has not yet begun to address - what we have called 'oblique policing goals'.
Ethical Challenges of Policing London - October 2014 : link
Since most of the panel’s work will be on the details of ethical practice for police officers, in this document we reflect on why being a police officer is such an ethically demanding job. We also consider how social change is making policing even harder, and what it is about London that makes being a Metropolitan police officer one of the most ethically challenging jobs in public service anywhere in the country. We believe it right for the Constable to be recognised as a fully professional person, with obligations to match the powers of the role. At the end we mark out next steps for the Met and for the people of London.
- MPS response
Since most of the panel’s work will be on the details of ethical practice for police officers, in this document we reflect on why being a police officer is such an ethically demanding job. We also consider how social change is making policing even harder, and what it is about London that makes being a Metropolitan police officer one of the most ethically challenging jobs in public service anywhere in the country. We believe it right for the Constable to be recognised as a fully professional person, with obligations to match the powers of the role. At the end we mark out next steps for the Met and for the people of London.
- MPS response