Independent Ethics Panel

The Independent Ethics Panel (IEP) was launched in January 2015 to help increase public trust and confidence in the way police officers carry out their duties and to encourage greater public scrutiny of police operations.

The Panel provides independent and effective challenge and assurance around integrity, standards and ethics of decision-making in policing.

The Police and Crime Commissioner commissions the IEP to undertake work that is explicitly referenced as areas of focus within his Police and Crime Plan.

These areas of focus currently include:

Stop and Search
Use of Force
Policing Protests and other Public Order events

The PCC also delegates to the IEP his statutory responsibility to ‘hold the Chief Constable to account’ for complaints handling and compliance with Equality Act duties.

It meets as a full panel five times per year with work ongoing in between these meetings. Members meet individually with force colleagues and attend other meetings as appropriate.

A national Code of Ethics was agreed for all police forces in July 2014. It has been adopted by South Yorkshire Police and the Office of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner. The Panel supports and monitors work to embed the Code across all the functions and activities of the Force, and also those within the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Panel makes recommendations to the Commissioner and the Chief Constable. The Chair provides reports to and attends the regular Public Accountability Board meetings.

About the Independent Ethics Panel