More than 20 sexual assault allegations against officers

Kent Police recorded a total of 23 sexual misconduct allegations against officers in the last five years, data has shown.

The force revealed the figure – relating to 25 officers – in response to a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request from RADAR in the wake of the Sarah Everard case.

Figures from 31 police forces across the UK reveal at least 750 accusations were made against officers between 2016 and 2020. Complaints could relate to historic allegations and most, where the gender was recorded, were against male officers, the data shows.

The responses did not indicate whether any of the officers were on duty at the time of the alleged incidents. Of the total number of cases logged by forces over the five years, at least 34 resulted in dismissals.

In at least seven cases, an officer was listed as having either resigned or been dismissed, and at least six officers would have been dismissed if they had not resigned first.

At least one officer resigned before a misconduct hearing.

It comes after an independent inquiry was announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel into the “systematic failures” that allowed Sarah Everard’s killer, Wayne Couzens, to be employed as a police officer.

Baroness Casey of Blackstock will lead a separate review of culture and standards at the Metropolitan Police in the wake of the murder.

Armed officer Couzens used his police issue handcuffs and warrant card to stage a fake arrest so he could kidnap Sarah, 33, before he raped and murdered her, dumping her body is woods near Ashford.

The End Violence Against Women Coalition, which includes groups such as Rape Crisis, Refuge and Women’s Aid, said few officers face “any meaningful consequences” for violence against women and girls.

The figures come in the wake of the Sarah Everard murder