Trio allowed to retire during probe
THREE Yorkshire police officers – whose failure to act on allegations made about paedophile Ian Watkins may have left a child at risk of further abuse for several months – were not only able to retire in the middle of an IPCC investigation but the force failed to so much as suspend them.
Following the conclusion of the IPCC investigation, the watchdog confirmed that three South Yorkshire Police officers, whose failure to act on allegations made against the Lostprophets singer amounted to gross misconduct, would not face any further action because they had retired from the force with 30 years of service.
can today reveal that the force did not even suspend the three officers, before allowing them to retire before the conclusion of the investigation into their conduct.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The officers subject to the independent IPCC investigation were, from the outset, not suspended.”
In January 2015, the Government introduced new laws which prevent police officers from resigning or retiring if they are subject to an allegation that could lead to dismissal.
But because the IPCC investigation into South Yorkshire Police was launched at the end of 2013 the three officers have not been affected by the new laws.
The force spokesman added: “The investigation start date predates the introduction of Regulation 10a, which came into force in January 2015, and therefore the officers were entitled to retire.”
South Yorkshire Police’s misconduct regulations state that “if an officer resigns or retires earlier than expected, their pension entitlement will be significantly lower than an officer who completes their full service. The force will, in the most serious cases, seek the forfeiture of the pension altogether”.
But South Yorkshire Police has refused to comment on whether the pension entitlement of any of the three officers has been affected as a result of their gross misconduct.
Watkins was jailed for 29 years in 2013, with an extended licence period of six years, for a string of child sex offences including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.
The IPCC’s findings detailed how Doncaster police officers failed to act on numerous allegations made by Watkins’s ex-girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics and in doing so may have placed a child at risk of further abuse for several months.
The report said there was a “general view among officers at Doncaster that Ms Mjadzelics was not to be taken seriously, and consequently enquiries were not progressed as they should be”.
An IPCC report published yesterday concluded that three South Wales Police officers who failed to act on allegations made by Ms Mjadzelics and five other informants would also not face any action.
An IPCC spokesman said: “South Wales Police agreed with the IPCC’s view that one officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct, and two officers had a case to answer for misconduct.
“A hearing earlier this year found it inappropriate to make any findings against a detective sergeant. The force has since decided not to take any further action concerning two detective constables.
“The IPCC investigation did consider the role played by supervisory officers but found no indication of any breach of professional standards by an individual at a more senior level.”