MINISTERS have launched a review of police conduct proceedings in an effort to drive improvements and address concerns about the system raised by police officers and victims alike.
Cumbria's officer representation body hopes it will speed up investigations.
The review, commissioned by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, will examine the entire police accountability system in a bid to 'make it more efficient and effective'.
Ed Russell, Chairman of Cumbria Police Federation, has welcomed the launch of the review.
He said police misconduct processes "can take years to reach an outcome, with officers often suspended for the duration.
"This is expensive, inefficient and, more importantly, a significant cause of prolonged anguish," he said.
Nationally, police forces see a four per cent dismissal rate as a result of misconduct processes.
Mr Russell said: "Investigations need to happen, but stricter timelines and guidance are required to ensure they remain proportionate."
The review will be chaired by former director general of the National Crime Agency Dame Lynne Owens as well as Jason Beer KC.
It will consider how officers are held to account, identify barriers to timely outcomes, and recommend reforms.
The review will also distinguish more clearly between individual and organisational accountability.
A joint statement by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice said that the review has been launched as "the government is committed to addressing concerns raised by policing leaders, the IOPC and other bodies, police officers, victims, and families on the overall systems for holding police officers to account."
Mr Russell said: "Policing has never been more complex.
"With a younger workforce, a more nuanced and developmental approach is required to ensure officers are given the support they need to achieve the standards we all require of them."
A spokesperson for the Home Office said that "lengthy investigations can leave victims and their families waiting years for resolution.
"They can also mean police officers who are found to have done nothing wrong are kept away from frontline duties for too long."
Issues examined for improvements include whether the police accountability system is fit for purpose, what barriers affect timeliness and how they could be removed and whether oversight and accountability powers available to the organisations like the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) are adequate.
The aim is to improve public and officer confidence in the system.
The review will also consider the views of policing leaders, the IOPC, victims, families, and frontline officers.
Cumbria Police Federation is one of many based across the UK which represent the interests of member officers in their area.
Federations make representations to the Home Secretary and other government bodies about policy changes; they negotiate pay and conditions with their force and provide legal advice and representation to officers during misconduct proceedings.
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