The PSNI has launched a new, independent and confidential telephone line for both police and civilian staff to report breaches of integrity and professional standards.

Safecall is a first for a UK police service and by using the telephone line, staff can report suspected acts of corruption, dishonesty and unethical behaviour. An independent external body has been commissioned to provide the service.

The police say that the objective is to create a system which "assists in upholding professional standards, external to the police service, thereby securing and maintaining public confidence".

Any member of staff may phone the Safecall line that will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and people experienced in dealing with organisational issues will staff the lines.

Chief Constable Hugh Orde said: “The aim of the independent telephone line is so that staff can let us know, in confidence, when things are wrong. It is not replacing any of the internal systems we already have; it is in fact, providing staff with another avenue by which they can report incidents of unethical behaviour in complete confidence.

"The vast majority of our officers and staff are clearly dedicated to their role in the Police Service, but as in every large organisation, there is a very small number of people who don’t make this grade. This facility will help to identify this small number of people.”

Professor Desmond Rea, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, added: “The Policing Board recently launched the Code of Ethics for the PSNI which makes it clear for officers what standards and behaviours are acceptable and what are not. Integrity is not negotiable in policing and provision of the Safecall service is a further step in the PSNI duty to ensure high ethical standards for all its officers”

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, Company Director, Safecall added: “To take such a step says something about the PSNI; since the Patten recommendations, not only has it undergone more change than any other police service but it is also willing to continue that change.

"By using Safecall, the PSNI is telling all members of staff that they do want to know of your problems and they will try and make it as easy as possible for you to tell them about them."

The development of an independent telephone line, such as Safecall, is an integral part of the Police Code of Ethics, which was launched in February.

(GMcG)