IT is important that the general public has faith it its police force. Without the goodwill of the man in the street, policing by consent, which is the sort of policing this Island must have, will be all but impossible.

With this in mind, it is easy to appreciate why, from time to time, officers accused of misconduct must face suspension while the allegations against them are considered, a report is compiled and, when appropriate, disciplinary action is implemented.

Unfortunately, there have recently been too many examples of police suspensions appearing to involve large volumes of smoke but, ultimately, showing little or no sign of fire.

It seems, for example, that the unacceptably long inquiry into the alleged misconduct of former police chief Graham Power in relation to the supervision of the Haut de la Garenne inquiry will result in no disciplinary action. It will be revealed next week, when reports by the Wiltshire police are to be published, whether Mr Power faces any criticism at all, but, from all points of view, the length of time taken to complete the investigation must be seen as completely unsatisfactory.

The same must be said on the inquiry into the conduct of two senior officers – who have yet to return to duty – who have been cleared of allegations that they had ‘groomed’ and sexually assaulted a woman. As in the case of Mr Power, due process – as it is currently organised – must have imposed horrible levels of stress on those accused of wrongdoing.

But there is a further dimension to the suspension issue. Protracted inquiries and long-delayed reports serve to undermine the all-important confidence that people must have in the police force if it is to operate effectively.

As matters stand, the Power suspension, the case of the two officers who have yet to return to work, the inquiry into Operation Blast – the alleged monitoring of States Members by the police – and a further inquiry into the handling of suspensions collectively convey the impression of a force at sixes and sevens which is plagued by disciplinary problems.

This may not be a fair or accurate picture of the real state of affairs, but, as so often in life, perceptions can be as influential as objective fact. The potential damage done by what must be described as repeated suspension fiascos makes revising procedures and devising new ways of streamlining practice a matter of the utmost urgency.