Protector or predator? - Institute for Security Studies

Gareth Newham and Andrew Faull
Specialised Internal Investigation Unit
It is imperative that the organisational response to reports of misconduct or corruption
is quick and effective. This is important both so that offending officials
can be removed, disciplined or counselled, and so that police who have been
falsely accused can be cleared to carry on with their work. This is best achieved
by having well-resourced and independent internal investigation units.
Such units are not necessary to deal with all allegations of police misconduct,
but only those considered dismissible offences if allegations are found to
have substance. Given the nature of police corruption and the culture of internal
networks within police agencies, it is generally accepted that an independent
specialised anti-corruption unit be used for this purpose. This unit should
report directly to a committee consisting of the National and Deputy National
Commissioners, only once investigations have been finalised to prevent interference
and leakages of information about sensitive investigations. 128
Such units need to be staffed by highly skilled, honest and motivated detectives,
who will need strong protection and support from managers because they
will be up against the ‘code of silence’. Newburn argues:
A strong proactive internal affairs initiative provides ‘an excuse for being
honest’ that may be acceptable to many of the rank and file … as reluctance
to engage in unethical conduct may be viewed not only as acceptable but also
prudent. As a result, many officials who are seeking ethical guidance may
secretly welcome such efforts if policies are realistic and fair. 129
However, even where such units exist, if the necessary political or managerial
will to seriously combat corruption is lacking, they are likely to be undermined
and end up being ineffectual. The Mollen Commission into police corruption in
New York City in 1994 had this to say about their internal investigation units at
the time of a major inquiry into a police corruption scandal:
For at least the past decade, the system designed to protect the Department
from corruption minimised the likelihood of uncovering it. In a department
with over one billion dollars, the basic equipment and resources needed to
investigate corruption successfully were routinely denied to corruption investigators;
internal investigations were prematurely closed and fragmented and
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