Abuse of trust (2A/22)
Request
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services
(2019) states that forces can increase public trust and confidence in policing through open and honest reporting. Publishing the circumstances of cases where staff and officers have been dismissed for Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose sends a clear message that victims will be supported if they come forward. It raises awareness of this type of corruption and shows that the force is taking a robust stance.
As such, please provide the following information:
- The total number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive.
- The number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive that were made by members of the public.
- The number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive that were made by police officers and staff.
- All misconduct hearing outcomes for your force for the period
01/01/2019 to 31/12/2021 inclusive.
- The number of police officers and staff employed by your force who were dismissed for Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose between
01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive, and the circumstances of these cases.
- Whether your force’s policy on Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose has been revised following the sentencing of former police officer Wayne Couzens.
- A copy of your force’s current Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose policy.
- A copy of your force’s Notifiable Associations policy.
We clarified this request with you on 4th Jan 2022 and you responded on 4th Feb 2022:
Q2: The number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive that were made by members of the public.
Do you want the number of crime reports where members of the public were the victim or the offender?
A2: As per the NPCC’s National Strategy, Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose (APSP) refers to police perpetrators only, therefore members of the public cannot be offenders, only victims. I want the number of crime reports/allegations of APSP (perpetrated by police
personnel) that were made by members of the public.
Q3. The number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive that were made by police officers and staff.
Do you want the number of crime reports where police officers and staff were victim’s or offender’s?
A3: The number of crime reports/allegations of APSP perpetrated by police personnel against members of the public that were made by police personnel. For example, a police officer suspects his colleague of APSP involving a crime victim, and reports it.
Q4. All misconduct hearing outcomes for your force for the period
01/01/2019 to 31/12/2021 inclusive.
Is this for all offences? or just for Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose?
A4: All offences – all misconduct outcomes regardless of offence.
Q8. A copy of your force’s Notifiable Associations policy.
Please elaborate on your definition of notifiable association?
A8: Notifiable Association – associations/relationships that police personnel may have with members of the public that may have an adverse effect on their ability to carry out their duties in accordance with the Code of Ethics.
Response
Please find enclosed our response.
Q1: The total number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive.
27
Q2: The number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive that were made by members of the public.
19
All complaint cases
Q3: The number of reports of Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose submitted to your force between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive that were made by police officers and staff.
8
All conduct cases
Q4: All misconduct hearing outcomes for your force for the period 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2021 inclusive.
All offences – all misconduct outcomes regardless of offence
| No Action | 11 |
| Management Action | 2 |
| Written Warning | 8 |
| Final Written Warning | 32 |
| Reduction in Rank | 1 |
| Dismissed | 38 |
| Would have been Dismissed | 29 |
| Would not have been Dismissed | 1 |
| Total | 122 |
- The number of police officers and staff employed by your force who were dismissed for Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 inclusive, and the circumstances of these cases.
Answer = 6
- Officer has met a vulnerable female during the course of his duties and entered into an inappropriate sexual relationship with her. OFFICER WOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED
- PCSO has sent inappropriate images to members of the public that he has met during the course of his duties. DISMISSED
- Allegation that a member of staff has made contact with a vulnerable female, via social media, entering into inappropriate communications with her. DISMISSED
- An Officer has abused his authority in order to form a sexual or emotional relationship with a female. DISMISSED
- It is alleged an officer has pursued an inappropriate sexual relationship with a member of the public during the course of his duties. DISMISSED
- Officer has commenced an inappropriate relationship with a victim of crime during the course of his duties. DISMISSED
- Whether your force’s policy on Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose has been revised following the sentencing of former police officer Wayne Couzens.
No. APSP is investigated as a crime
- A copy of your force’s current Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose policy.
See Q6
Also see the following National Guidance.
Abuse of position for sexual purpose National Strategy.pdf (npcc.police.uk)
- A copy of your force’s Notifiable Associations policy.
Please see attached policy “vulnerable association”. Please note that this is currently under review.