Responding to the changes being introduced by the Home Office impacting officer vetting regulations, PFEW Acting National Chair Tiff Lynch said: “The Police Federation of England and Wales is unequivocal: there is no place in policing for those who betray their oath and undermine public trust.

“However, we have been clear throughout that there needs to be a fair and just process so that police officers can only be dismissed on the basis of credible evidence, not rumour or hearsay.

“The Federation will scrutinise how forces implement these new regulations to make sure they are fair for all officers. It’s important that further undue pressure is not placed on the overwhelming majority of good and brave police officers who are already overworked, underpaid and under threat."