Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

PATHWAY TO CHANGE
are the prime reasons for the need for an open, transparent and independent
system for public complaints.
2.40 The potential for complaints from members of the public also means that any
system for dealing with such complaints must, so far as is possible, contain
safeguards to protect officers who are carrying out their duties in a conscientious
manner.
The employment status of police officers
2.41 It is important to bear in mind that the Police Regulations which set out the
terms and conditions of officers and the disciplinary framework were born out of
the industrial unrest of the 19th and early 20th century.
2.42 The first regulations were drawn up in 1920 and were made under the Police
Act 1919, which was enacted in the wake of the strike of 1918. They gave police
officers rights which were in advance of those enjoyed by other workers at that
time and put the police service in the vanguard of industrial relations.
2.43 However, industrial relations and employment rights have developed
significantly in the last 40 years with the establishment of Industrial Tribunals (now
Employment Tribunals), the introduction of written terms and conditions of
employment for employees, statutory employment rights and legislation on
equalities, health and safety, etc. European legislation has also had the effect of
strengthening rights conferred by English law.
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