MEON Valley MP George Hollingbery has welcomed new regulations stopping police officers from resigning or retiring if they are subject to misconduct allegations.

Mr Hollingbery said the move would lead to greater confidence in the police and would be welcomed by most officers.

He said: “People should expect the highest standards from the police and these regulations will help achieve it because it was unacceptable for officers to avoid scrutiny when misconduct was suspected.

“The overwhelming majority of officers, who are honest and hard-working, have nothing to fear from this change and the public has everything to gain from a more transparent process that will hold to account those who have potentially done wrong.”

The new regulations came into force earlier this month and mean officers will be prevented from resigning or retiring until any case has concluded, or has found that the officer will not face a dismissal hearing.

Only a chief officer or Police and Crime Commissioner will now be able to consent to an officer’s resignation or retirement if they are deemed medically unfit or in other exceptional circumstances, for example, where a covert criminal investigation could be prejudiced.

Mr Hollingbery, who is the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary, added that the regulations will ensure victims of police misconduct and their families are provided justice and that the police can learn the full lessons of each incidence of serious misconduct.

From December 1 2013 to August 1 2014, 144 officers resigned or retired while subject to a gross misconduct investigation, preventing them from being held to account for their actions, Home Office figures revealed.