Death of police’s sexist ‘boys’ club’
Report damns victimisation of woman gun cop Crackdown on force’s culture will BAN ‘banter’ EVERY officer to get diversity & equality training
POLICE Scotland breached its ‘legal obligations’ after a female officer was victimised by members of a ‘boys’ club’ armed response unit, a damning review has found.
Top brass now say a crackdown on misogyny and sexist ‘banter’ within the force will see every officer given equality and diversity training.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), who compiled the review, also recommended the single force reassess old sexism cases to make sure the correct conclusions were reached.
The report said senior officers had to send out a signal that ‘banter’ of a sexual nature was forbidden – while it also called for efforts to investigate whether there is a ‘culture [which prevents] females applying’ for police jobs.
The report came after Rhona Malone, 46, won a victimisation claim against Police Scotland at a tribunal last year, with the former armed response officer awarded a settlement of almost £1million. Mrs Malone
‘Lack of respect towards female colleagues’
had complained about a written recommendation that she and another female officer should not be deployed together if a male officer was available.
An email from Inspector Keith Warhurst had said two female officers should not be deployed together because apart from ‘the obvious differences in physical capacity, it makes more sense from a search, balance of testosterone perspective’.
The PSNI report, by Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, highlighted another comment from Mr Warhurst: ‘I am going to plunge in with both feet and open myself up to being accused of being sexist.’
It said: ‘It is apparent the email itself has been the root cause of the problems emanating from this case. Its content demonstrates the lack of respect towards female colleagues. Moreover, it sets the wrong example to other colleagues. Finally it is in contravention of the organisation’s legal obligations and internal policies.’
The report called for a ‘cultural survey’ of the views of officers and staff ‘in relation to sexual misconduct in the workplace’. It said: ‘Due thought should be given to the need to review historic cases in which allegations of sexual misconduct were advanced to ensure they were appropriately addressed.’
The report, published yesterday, said training on equality and diversity should have ‘particular focus on branches within policing where there is a “boys’ club” culture’.
It added: ‘To effectively train individuals on this subject matter, consideration should be given to using examples of the type of conduct that is not tolerated.
‘This would be key, as the conduct is often wrongly labelled as “banter” and not given the attention it warrants.’ Mr Hamilton added ‘if there are fewer/no females in departments, what are the reasons for this – is the selection criteria preventing females from applying, is the culture preventing females applying?’
The report was commissioned by Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone after the Malone tribunal heard the culture in armed police was an ‘absolute boys’ club’.
Mr Hamilton’s report said ‘training should be rolled out to all officers and staff on equality and diversity’ – with this initially focused on areas of the force where ‘there is a perceived “men’s club” culture’.
Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: ‘The
Chief Constable has underlined his personal commitment to leading change in policing in Scotland which drives equality and inclusion to improve the experiences of all women.’
Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said: ‘Rhona Malone’s career was destroyed by a boys’ club culture. The PSNI report reveals this costly and damaging saga could have been avoided if proper procedures had been followed. There are still women in policing fighting cases of sexism, so it is imperative that Police Scotland acts on these recommendations.’
Mrs Malone was contacted for comment.