‘Potential predators amongst us’: New figures show that 1,500 police have been accused of attacks on women… but just ONE per cent were sacked
- In six months 13 officers of the 1,539 were dismissed for violence against women
- 70 per cent of misconduct cases completed in period led to no further action
- Read more: Paedophile Metropolitan Police officer dismissed without notice
The horrifying scale of abuse by police can today be laid bare as figures show 1,500 officers and staff were accused of violence against women, but just 1 per cent were sacked.
The first ever national report on offending by serving officers and staff has revealed how hundreds of criminals in uniform are being reported for attacks on women as serious as rape, domestic assault and harassment, yet the majority are getting away with it.
In the six months between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, a total of 1,539 officers and staff were accused of violence against women and girls by members of the public or colleagues.
But in the same period just 13 officers were dismissed, which is less than 1 per cent of those accused.
The data published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council shows that 70 per cent of misconduct cases completed in that period led to no further action and four officers were let off with written warnings.
In six months a total of 1,539 officers and staff were accused of violence against women and girls. Pictured: Murderer and rapist Wayne Couzens (left) and his colleague, prolific rapist David Carrick (right)
Sergeant who beat wife not named to protect his welfare
A policeman with a 20-year history of violence against women cannot be identified because he claimed it would harm his mental health.
The sergeant pushed one woman, who he met in 2003 and married in 2005, out of a moving car, repeatedly beat her around the head and face, punched her in the stomach causing her to vomit and tried to throw her in a bath of bleach.
The officer – with Sussex Police for 20 years – reportedly slapped a second partner across the face so hard it caused her ear to bleed. Both women were serving officers.
At a disciplinary hearing in Lewes, East Sussex, allegations of gross misconduct against him were found to be proven last week. The panel said he would have been sacked from the force if he had hadn’t already resigned.
But the panel allowed his application for anonymity. The sergeant claimed he was vulnerable because he suffered from ‘mental health’ problems but presented no medical evidence. Jayne Butler, chief executive of charity Rape Crisis, said: ‘Given the number of high profile cases of police-perpetrated violence, how is anonymity for those accused of abusive behaviour in the public interest?’
And 672 officers and staff across England and Wales faced disciplinary probes after being accused of sexual offences or violence against women in the six-month period.
There were a further 524 public complaints made against 867 officers and staff. But shockingly none of these complaints resulted in anyone being sacked and 91 per cent of reports resulted in no further action.
Now Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, who is the national police lead on tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), wants zero tolerance for criminal behaviour. She admitted the scale of alleged offending was likely to be an underestimate as many victims are reluctant to come forward.
The senior officer also acknowledged that some of the accused may be repeat offenders who have previously been spared the sack by superiors.
‘It is shocking to hear that amongst us we have potential predators in policing and this I know will further shake fragile trust’, she said.
‘Our recommendation to Government is that anyone cautioned or convicted is barred from policing.’
She said forces must be ‘harsher in sanctions’ so chiefs can sack perpetrators quicker.
Inexplicably, four of the 43 forces were unable to provide figures on complaints or misconduct by their own officers.
On average, victims wait more than 80 days for a police complaint or misconduct issue to be resolved.
Of the disciplinary cases, 39 per cent related to alleged inappropriate sexual conduct which included rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, soliciting of prostitutes and child sexual abuse material. A further 6 per cent related to abuse of position for a sexual purpose.
Among the complaints from the public, 63 per cent were accusations over use of force, 6 per cent were about harassing behaviour, 6 per cent were about sexual assault and 5 per cent concerned abuse of position to pursue a relationship. Andrea Simon, of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: ‘This data is just the tip of the iceberg, given that many women choose not to report VAWG to the police, and this will be heightened when the perpetrator themselves is a police officer or staff member.’
The lifting of the lid on police misconduct is part of efforts to tackle misogyny after scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by officer Wayne Couzens and the jailing of his colleague, prolific rapist David Carrick.
Yesterday the Metropolitan Police announced plans to re-vet staff who are accused of breaking public trust.
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