Revealed: police roll call of disgrace

⬣ 'Safer schools' scheme officer groomed teenage girls

⬣ PC tied up woman and cut her with a knife

⬣ Policeman downloaded photos of voyeurism victims

⬣ Dozens face sack for drugs, sexism and racism charges

Britain’s policing crisis has deepened as The Independent can reveal an officer who downloaded indecent images of children and another who tied a woman up and cut her with a knife are among dozens facing the sack. At least 39 officers are to face misconduct hearings across England and Wales over the coming weeks, including 23 from the Metropolitan Police alone.

Among the worst offenders are an officer who downloaded images of victims in voyeurism cases and a sergeant who used his position to strike up a relationship with a domestic violence victim. Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has revealed he expects “two or three officers going to court” every week for months, with many facing accusations of sexual offences or domestic abuse. He admitted Britain’s largest force had more than “just a few bad apples” and that “more painful stories” would be unearthed as it intensifies efforts to sack unsuitable officers. In the latest case, a Safer Schools officer admitted grooming teenage girls. Co-founder of the Reclaim These Streets Jamie Klingler said the “continued cycle of excuses” has to stop. “The Met can’t move on culturally without a huge change in training … and they need to immediately stop officers who are under investigation [for offences against women] from working with vulnerable people and on domestic abuse cases.”