Background
This is a statement from Trisha Napier, IOPC whistleblower and Protect, the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity.
Trisha Napier was the lead investigator for the investigation into whether Metropolitan Police officers committed misconduct when they stopped and searched two black Olympic athletes, Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos in July 2020.
Trisha in a Newsnight interview, states that her assessment that there was evidence to charge the officers involved with possible gross misconduct was “watered down” because her conclusions contradicted statements made by the Met Police at the time.
Trisha believes that IOPC bosses, Mr Lockwood and Sal Naseem “interfered” in the investigation, against usual practice and ‘downgraded’ the disciplinary action. This inference “casts serious doubt on its [IOPC] independence.”
Trisha’s Statement
“I am very proud of my record at the Independent Office for Police Conduct over 17 years. But when the watchdog fails there also needs to be real accountability to stop the slide in public confidence.
The IOPC investigated itself and dismissed my whistleblowing claim and the witnesses who supported it. This left me with no viable choice but to resign from a job I loved. My case is now part of a legal claim against the watchdog. I look forward to my day in court and will not be commenting further.”
Further queries should be addressed to Protect, the whistleblower charity who are advising me.”
Protect statement
“Trisha’s concerns over an IOPC cover up raises serious questions that further damage confidence in the police. If we can’t trust the IOPC to listen to whistleblowers, then Sir Mark Rowley’s job of restoring public confidence in the Met police is even harder. A culture of impunity and cover up in the police is disastrous. It is particularly important for the IOPC to ensure these are addressed, after all the IOPC was established by the Police Reform Act precisely to ensure that the handling of complaints against the Police “manifest an appropriate degree of independence;” and “to secure that public confidence is established and maintained “
The IOPC needs to review its whistleblowing arrangements and demonstrate that its culture – and that of the Met Police – is one where anyone coming forward with concerns about misconduct is listened to and their concerns investigated.
Whistleblowing is the most important warning system we have so all employers – including regulators – must listen to the message and protect the whistleblower. Trisha states she raised concerns but rather than being listened to and supported, she felt forced to resign. The IOPC need to review their whistleblowing culture as a priority, and they need to quickly explain publicly what the time frame will be for this. “ For any press enquires please contact: Meganne Tillay at Byfield Phone number: 0775 15 97 789 or meg@byfieldconsultancy.com