Policy Exchange’s new report into police Staff Networks raises key questions over impartiality. The report in particular examines the activities of the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) and local force-level Muslim Police Associations finding examples of these organisations becoming involved in some of the most contentious policy issues of the day and platforming individuals and organisations with highly questionable backgrounds. 

The paper is endorsed by Baroness (Kishwer) Falkner of Margravine (former Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Crossbench Peer), Michael Stewart CBE (former National Security senior practitioner), Peter Clarke CVO OBE QPM (former Head of Counter Terrorism Policing and former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police) and Chris Donaldson (founder member of the Black Police Association). 

The paper makes a series of recommendations which include legislating for a “Police Impartiality Act” to set out unequivocally the impartiality standards and expectations for police forces, police officers, police staff police Staff Networks and policing-related bodies. The report also recommends the abolition of police Staff Networks – and at a minimum if Government chooses to retain Staff Networks, a strict governance regime limiting their activities to the internal support of Network’s members.

The launch of this report was covered by:

• The Times
• The Telegraph
• Daily Mail
• The Spectator
• GB News
• POLITICO’s London Playbook
• Guido Fawkes
• Times Radio