Express & Star

Kevin Nunes investigation: Some officers' conduct during inquiry 'did not meet high standards of force'

Staffordshire Police today said the conduct of some of its officers during the Kevin Nunes investigation 'did not meet its high standards'.

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It added that procedures had been overhauled.

The force released a management review into concerns in the unit dealing with witnesses and informants on the case after a year-long Freedom of Information battle with the Express & Star.

Deputy Chief Constable Nick Baker said: "Following Freedom of Information requests, Staffordshire Police has published a report that reviews aspects of the work of the force's Sensitive Policing Unit, which was, up until 2007, responsible for the management of Covert Human Intelligence Sources and protected witnesses.

"The document was provided to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as part of Operation Kalmia, which investigated the actions of officers following the quashing of convictions, in 2010, of five men for the murder of Kevin Nunes in 2002.

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"The 2006/7 Management Review of the Sensitive Policing Unit was a detailed examination undertaken by a highly experienced senior officer within Staffordshire Police.

"The review was commissioned following an informal meeting between the head of the unit and the head of professional standards at Staffordshire Police, over alleged incidents involving officers working in the Unit and in particular the handling of protected witnesses in the investigation into the murder of Kevin Nunes.

"The content of the report shows that the actions of some of those in the unit ten years ago is not one that now, or at the time, met the high standards we expect of officers and staff working for Staffordshire Police.

"Any mistakes or misconduct were of a professional, not criminal nature, and tackled according to the force's disciplinary process, as set out in the Review.

"Since 2012, the management of protected people by individual forces has passed to a national agency known as the UK Protected Persons Service, and there are now much clearer and stricter rules governing this very sensitive and specialist area of police work.

"This review is now being published following agreement by the IPCC and an indication by them that they will be publishing the Kalmia report in due course, and their decision last year that no further action is required against any serving officer in relation to this review or the wider Kalmia investigation."

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