Former police chief: I was indecently assaulted by 2 colleagues

A RETIRED police chief has revealed that she was groped twice by senior officers early in her career.

Former Nottinghamshire chief constable Sue Fish said that she had reported one of the sexual assaults but the culprit remained in his job.

She later pioneered a policy of recording misogyny as a hate crime.

Mrs Fish, pictured, said: ‘Two of my particularly unpleasant experiences as a police officer were both... technically indecent assaults, both of them.

‘I didn’t report one at all and I did the second one. Unwanted touching would be

‘There is minority that is absolutely toxic’

probably the best way of describing it.’ She said she had felt unable to report the first assault because it was unlikely anyone would believe the allegations against a senior, well-regarded officer.

She had reported the second assault, by a man from a different force. It was made clear to him his behaviour was inappropriate, but he remained in his senior role.

Mrs Fish joined Nottinghamshire as a constable in 1986 and worked in uniform and detective roles for forces including Nottinghamshire, the West Midlands and the Met.

It is not clear where she was working when the incidents took place.

She led Nottinghamshire Police until three years ago and said she feared such assaults are still being carried out in forces today. In an interview with ITV Tonight to be broadcast tomorrow, she said: ‘There are so many good people in policing, male and female, [but] there is still what I hope is a minority... that’s absolutely toxic.

‘It’s still carrying on, despite the best endeavours of the leadership.’

Mrs Fish said the murder of Sarah Everard, for which a police officer is the prime suspect, should act as ‘wake-up call’ to the force. She said: ‘If we want women as half our population to have confidence in their police service, the police service needs to listen and to respond accordingly.’

Mrs Fish was the first chief constable to introduce recording misogyny as a hate crime in 2016. Last month peers agreed an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill that would make it a requirement for all forces in England. Nottinghamshire Police has been contacted for comment.