According to new instructions, police personnel who assault women should be immediately fired and prohibited from returning to the force.
Anyone conducting a misconduct hearing has also been asked by the College of Policing to take into account how each offence has affected public trust.
It comes after a spate of misogynistic scandals including the death of 33-year-old Sarah Everard by a Scotland Yard firearms officer last year.
Andy Marsh, the chief executive of the institution, demanded the toughest punishments for aggressive officers while acknowledging that there may be those who should have been fired but were spared by lenient decisions during misconduct hearings.
When he started at the institution in August of last year, Mr. Marsh asked for the evaluation.
In an attempt to eradicate toxic behaviour in law enforcement, the guideline, which has been welcomed by Home Secretary Priti Patel, includes a section on violence against women and girls.
According to Home Office statistics, 30% of misconduct proceedings presided over by legally competent chairmen ended in dismissal in the 12 months leading up to March 31 of last year.
‘When I was a chief constable, I had to welcome officers back into my workforce who I feel should have been terminated because the choice had been taken out of my hands,’ said Mr. Marsh, a former top officer for 15 years who was appointed to the position last August.
“So, when I joined the College of Policing, I asked the team to review the guidance we already provided on misconduct proceedings because the process wasn’t working as well as it should — we weren’t dismissing officers who fell far short of the standards that the public has a right to expect,” the new member of the College of Policing said.
It comes after sexist scandals that have haunted law enforcement, such the Charing Cross police station incident with officers exchanging homophobic and misogynistic WhatsApp messages.
Dame Cressida Dick resigned as commissioner of the Metropolitan Police after communications from the station showed officers making jokes about raping a colleague and murdering black children.
However, the vast majority of the officers included in the Independent Office for Police Conduct report were still employed.
The new guidelines, according to Mr. Marsh, “will allow leaders throughout police and the independent legal chairs to make the appropriate judgments and fire officers who undermine the image of us all.” Each case should, however, always be evaluated on its own merits, he said.
He said, “If someone behaves in such a way that it would undermine public confidence in their police force, they should be fired.” They have no place in law enforcement, and neither the head constables nor their fellow officers want them.
Mr. Marsh said that, barring unusual circumstances, misconduct proceedings ought to be open to the public. Some influences may anonymize the perpetrator and suppress knowledge regarding misbehaviour results.
He said, “I know many forces believe they carry the weight of openness choices, even if often they are made entirely independently by legally competent chairs. Always assume that the hearing will take place in open session. These proceedings must be entirely open and transparent.
Following the murder of Miss Everard, 33, by serving Scotland Yard firearms officer Wayne Couzens, allegations of police wrongdoing and assertions that violence against women was not taken seriously increased dramatically.
Police officers who genuinely fall short of the standards expected of them must be dealt with fairly and firmly, Priti Patel said in response to the revisions.
“This new advice offers misconduct panels unmistakable direction that police wants to see behaviour fueled by sexism, racism, or any other kind of prejudice dealt with the greatest seriousness,” said Chief Constable Craig Guildford of the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
This is in support of all the recent efforts made by the police to combat violence against women and girls.
It demonstrates to the public our commitment to getting rid of harmful culture and poisonous behaviour.