2,000 officers are accused of sex offences in 4yrs
ALMOST 2,000 police and community support officers were accused of sexual misconduct in the past four years, Freedom of Information figures show.
The allegations include more than 370 accusations of sexual assault, nearly 100 of rape and 18 of child sex offences.
The figures, from 39 of the 43 police forces in the UK obtained by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, indicate that only 8 per cent of these allegations led to a dismissal.
They include 166 Police Scotland officers and special constables, who were accused of 245 counts of sexual misconduct. No officers were dismissed, meaning there are serving police officers with proven cases of sexual misconduct who remain on active duty in Scotland.
The findings will be broadcast tonight in Cops on Trial: Dispatches, three days after it was announced Baroness Casey of Blackstock will lead a review into The Met’s culture and vetting processes.
The review, in response to Sarah Everard’s murder by serving officer Wayne Couzens, will re-examine historical cases of sexual misconduct allegations involving officers still serving in the force.
A separate independent inquiry was announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel to investigate the ‘systemic’ failures that allowed Couzens, 48, to be employed as a police officer despite reports of indecent exposure and other signs he could be dangerous.
The parliamentary and diplomatic protection officer was said to have been referred to as ‘the rapist’ by former colleagues in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary because he made women feel uncomfortable.
Couzens used his handcuffs and warrant card to stage a fake arrest to kidnap the 33-year-old marketing manager before raping and murdering her.
The documentary features an interview with the victim of Police Scotland officer Fraser Ross, convicted of four counts of assault in July.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that he headbutted his 42-yearold girlfriend and strangled her, in attacks which left her bruised and in pain.
He was sentenced to three years’ community payback, 250 hours’ unpaid work and a sixyear non-harassment order. He resigned a week before being sentenced.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: ‘Police Scotland demands the highest levels of integrity from our officers. Sexism, misogyny and discrimination of any kind are deplorable and unacceptable. Progress has been made but there remains much work to do.’
The most common sexual misconduct offence in the Freedom of Information data involved officers allegedly using their power to form a relationship with a victim for sexually motivated purposes.
A separate study from Bournemouth University found there were 514 proven cases of sexual misconduct across 33 forces in the past five years, the most common of which was ‘abuse of position for a sexual purpose’.
National Police Chiefs Council Lead for Violence and Public Protection Louise Rolfe told Dispatches any officers reported for sexual offences should be subject to robust criminal and misconduct investigations.
‘We absolutely must, in policing, get to the bottom of what might have been behind these cases,’ she said.
‘We know very sadly, a small number of people are attracted to policing because of the power,
‘Highest levels of integrity’
the control and the opportunity it affords them.’
The End Violence Against Women Coalition said few officers faced ‘any meaningful consequences’ for sexual misconduct against women and girls.
Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said: ‘The majority of decent officers are appalled by those who tarnish their good reputation with this type of behaviour, but they should also be frustrated at how these cases are often dealt with.
‘Too often they are met with a PR response to close ranks and protect Police Scotland’s image rather than an admission of there being any problem. It is shocking so many officers have been accused of sexual wrongdoing but have apparently not been held to account.’