Number of West Yorkshire Police officers barred from serving has risen almost tenfold since 2020

The number of West Yorkshire Police officers dismissed and added to a national barred list has increased almost every year since 2020, new figures show.

A total of 29 officers from the force were added to the list in the year to March 2026, compared with just three in 2020/21, according to the College of Policing.

The latest figure is a slight decrease on the 31 officers recorded in 2024/25, but remains significantly higher than the numbers seen earlier in the period.

The figures come as a record 757 officers across England and Wales were barred from policing in 2025/26, the highest annual total since the list was introduced in December 2017.

The list prevents officers, specialist constables and police staff who have been dismissed for breaching professional standards from returning to policing.

Across England and Wales, the number of officers added to the list has increased every year since 2021/22, when 299 were recorded. This rose to 394 in 2022/23, 594 in 2023/24 and 735 in 2024/25, before reaching 757 last year.

Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson, director of operational standards at the College of Policing, said: “Policing is built on trust and these figures show we will not hesitate to act when that trust is broken.

“757 officers have been removed and barred from ever serving again, including those who retired or resigned while under investigation.”

He added that the figure represented 0.5% of all serving officers, with the “vast majority” continuing to serve with professionalism and integrity.

The College of Policing report identified dishonesty as a reason for dismissal in 142 cases, while discriminatory behaviour was recorded in 110 and unlawful access of disclosure of information in 101.

There were also 87 cases involving sexual offences or misconduct, including 46 relating to abuse of position in a sexual purpose, six involving child sexual abuse and five involving rape.

Of the 757 officers added to the list nationally, 334 were serving officers, 397 had resigned and 26 had retired.

The Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of barred officers, at 195, followed by Greater Manchester Police with 46 and West Midlands Police with a further 42.

The report also recorded 348 police staff being added to the barred list in 2025/26, up from 280 the previous year.

The figures cover the year to the end of March 2026 and were published by the College of Policing.

West Yorkshire Police have been approached for comment.