Women’s leaders call on Hernandez to root out sexist police officers in SW
THE chiefs of two women’s groups in the South West have called upon Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner to root out misogyny and sexism in the force.
The call by Caroline Voaden, CEO of Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services and Jackie May, CEO of the Women’s Centre Cornwall, comes just days after His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) released a damning new report into police vetting standards, saying they were not high enough and it was “too easy for the wrong people to both join and stay in the police.”
The HMICFRS reviewed hundreds of police vetting files and their report noted they found “too many cases where people should not have been allowed to join the police, including officers with criminal records or links to organised crime”.
Their report stated the inspectors “also found cases where evidence that a prospective officer may present a risk to the public was ignored.”
In a statement released by the HMICFRS, the watchdog said: “HMICFRS said there were incidents which should have been assessed as gross misconduct that were assessed as misconduct only, or not treated as misconduct at all.
“The inspectorate concluded that a culture of misogyny, sexism and predatory behaviour towards female police officers and staff and members of the public still exists and is even prevalent in many forces.”
The CEOs of the Women’s Centre Cornwall and Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services have today written an open letter to Alison Hernandez highlighting the HMICFRS’s report as well as last month’s damning report from the same watchdog with put Devon and Cornwall Police into ‘special measures’ over it’s slow response times to calls and inadequate management of sexual and violent offenders.
The letter also highlighted figures from Devon and Cornwall police which revealed a 19% rise in the number of rapes and sexual offences reported to police across the peninsula in the year ended September 2022. It noted how of those 2,566 reported offences only 1% to 2% would lead to a charge with even fewer leading to a conviction, calling it “a historic low which is a travesty for victims.”
Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services CEO, Caroline Voaden, said: “A deep cultural problem of sexism and predatory behaviour within the police has been exposed. We already know rape convictions are at a historic low. How can the public trust the police to respond to sexual offences appropriately if sexism is so prevalent?”
Jackie May, the CEO of the Women’s Centre Cornwall, said: “We are calling on Alison Hernandez to address the systemic misogyny which leads to these shocking figures. Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services and The Women’s Centre Cornwall have
written to the Police and Crime Commissioner to ask for assurances that misogyny and sexism will be rooted out of the Devon & Cornwall police for good.”
The letter in full:
Dear Alison Hernandez,
“You will no doubt have read the report this week that highlighted a culture of ‘misogyny, sexism and predatory behaviour’ in the police, towards female officers, as well as staff and members of the public.
“A report has revealed police forces have accepted into their ranks officers who had already been charged with domestic abuse and sexual violence. This comes in the same week that figures from Devon and Cornwall police reveal a 19% rise in the number of rapes and sexual offences reported to police across the peninsula in the year ended September 2022. Yet of those 2,566 reported offences, only 1-2% will lead to a charge. Even fewer will lead to a conviction – a historic low which is a travesty for victims.
“And more than four in 10 rape victims will drop out of the criminal justice system during the process because it is too difficult and takes far too long.
“We at Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services and The Women’s Centre Cornwall are very concerned about the deep cultural problem that exists within the police. If serving officers exhibit sexism and predatory behaviour, how can a woman who has been the victim of sexual violence have any confidence in the police? How can the public trust the police to respond to rape and sexual offences appropriately?
“I am writing to you on behalf of all the women we support at our centres, who will have been deeply upset to hear about this report in the media. Women who have trusted the police with the most intimate and personal details when reporting a crime of sexual violence. Many of whom will have already felt let down by the police and criminal justice system.
“Please can you tell us what you are doing to root out misogyny and sexism in Devon and Cornwall police? And can you assure us that all police vetting will be reviewed and any officer whose behaviour has caused or is causing concern is withdrawn from any role that involves contact with victims of crime?”
The letter is signed from Caroline Voaden, Chief Executive, Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services; and Jackie May, Chief Executive, Women’s Centre Cornwall.
In response, Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for
Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Every day the police believe victims of sexual violence and investigate for evidence to secure justice. Believing the victim at point of reporting is a fundamental principle that all forces follow. In the year to October, a total of 2,007 rapes and 3,668 other sexual offences were reported to our force. Victims include children, women and men and around a third were non recent offences which may be more difficult to prove. There is no doubt that His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ report is alarming. Although the force was praised by inspectors for its work to understand and improve force culture, and was one of the first forces to address misogyny, much work remains to be done. I do not want victims of crime put off seeking help because of this narrative. And my office is the safety net. Victims can be supported through victim support services I fund, or complain about officer misconduct to my office if they feel officers fall short. I welcome the input from Devon Rape Crisis and Women’s Centre Cornwall and invite their chief executives to discuss their thoughts with me.”
‘A deep cultural problem of sexism and predatory behaviour within the police has been exposed’ CAROLINE VOADEN
‘I do not want victims of crime put off seeking help because of this narrative’ ALISON HERNANDEZ