Police ‘abuse position for sex as matter of routine’

POLICE officers are being accused of sexually exploiting crime victims and witnesses every three days, figures show.

Since the start of April, the police watchdog has received 66 claims that predatory staff have taken advantage of vulnerable contacts.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission also revealed that since April 201 , it has received 320 referrals of sexual exploitation cases.

Some 57 required investigation and inquiries into 33 are still going on. The IPCC updated its guidance earlier this year to state that such cases should automatically be referred.

IPCC chairman Anne Owers said: ‘Police personnel who exploit people in vulnerable positions for sexual gratification have no place in policing.

‘In some cases, victims of sexual abuse are being approached by an officer with the intention of beginning an improper relationship. This is unacceptable.’

The figures were released after the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary yesterday criticised forces over their ‘disappointing’ efforts to tackle sexual exploitation by police.