Meek police get lessons to boost ‘moral courage’

POLICE bosses who have failed to tackle misconduct among rank-and-file officers are being given lessons in ‘moral courage’, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Sergeants and inspectors at West Midlands Police have been deemed so poor at dealing with serious disciplinary issues, such as misogyny and racism, they’re now sent on training courses that instil the confidence they need to stand up to bad behaviour.

Other forces are understood to provide so-called bystander training over fears that poor conduct is going unchecked. It is designed to ensure officers know how to confront colleagues and team members when necessary.

In a speech at a conference of senior police officers, Detective Chief Inspector Rod Rose, of West Midlands Police, said: ‘There’s a lack of will by sergeants and inspectors – it comes from a confidence issue. We’re having to give them “moral courage” courses because of that lack of will to deal with issues.

‘I can’t believe we are the only force doing that, but it’s worrying when we’ve got line managers who won’t do their job.’

But one West Midlands officer scoffed at the notion that such lessons were required. They said: ‘We run into dangerous situations all the time but we need moral courage training? Give me a break.’

Confirming the initiative, West Midlands’ Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said: ‘We have started a learning programme called “Moral Courage” which builds on the work that we have been undertaking for quite some time to ensure we maintain the highest of standards.’

The police have been rocked by a string of scandals, including the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard last year by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, whose comments to colleagues in messaging groups gave plenty of clues that he was a danger to women.

And former Scotland Yard boss Cressida Dick stepped down last month amid fallout from a watchdog report into allegations of bullying, violence towards women and discriminatory language by officers.

Tory MP Tim Loughton, of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: ‘The issue that has undermined policing more than anything is this canteen culture and laddism which has led to awful cases of misconduct and sexism. While this problem needs to be tackled, it is very concerning that officers are not already rooting out bad behaviour and are instead having to be instructed to do so through “moral courage” training.’

The revelation comes as the National Police Chiefs’ Council launches a national action plan for forces to tackle racism.

Tyron Joyce, West Yorkshire’s Assistant Chief Constable who is leading the campaign, said forces would have to ‘learn about local black history’ and that training programmes would be revised to ‘make sure they are all anti-racist’.