Focus on rooting out officers abusing position for a sexual purpose is working

Abuse of position for a sexual purpose (APSP) investigations are leading to more police officers and staff facing gross misconduct proceedings than any other carried out by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Out of 105 individuals found to have a case to answer for gross misconduct – behaviour so serious it could warrant dismissal – between April 2021 and March 2022, 41 (39 per cent) followed an independent investigation involving an APSP allegation.

The IOPC’s latest Outcomes Report, published on 29 November, highlights the disciplinary and criminal outcomes of our independent investigations.

In the 419 independent investigations we completed over the 12-month period, we investigated the conduct of 262 officers or staff. While only around 17 per cent (44) of those were the subject in an APSP-related investigation, those cases were responsible for almost 40 per cent of all officers who we found should face disciplinary proceedings for potential gross misconduct. However, this does not always mean that the misconduct identified for each individual is related to APSP.

APSP also accounted for more than a third of the 23 criminal convictions resulting from an IOPC investigation last year.

IOPC Director General Michael Lockwood said: “Abuse of position for a sexual purpose is serious corruption and there is simply no place for this kind of behaviour in policing.

“It is vital that those who experience or witness this sort of behaviour feel able to speak up and I hope by drawing attention to this work, and its impact, we can provide the reassurance needed to encourage more people to come forward.”

Among the findings of the report, were:

• More than one person a week was barred from working in policing as a result of an IOPC independent investigation. Over the year, 45 were dismissed – up from 25 the year before – while several more would have been had they not retired or resigned prior to a hearing. These figures do not include those dismissed as a result of local investigations by forces.
• Criminal proceedings took place for 38 individuals, leading to 23 convictions for a criminal offence, more than the previous three years combined.
• The proportion of disciplinary proceedings where the case was found proven continued to rise, up to 82 per cent, from 79 per cent the year before.

Mr Lockwood continued: “The public expects those officers whose actions fall short of the standards to be held accountable. It is clear our work is doing just that.

“While accountability takes many forms, this report shows how our work, as well as reforms to the police complaints and discipline system, is helping to ensure more of those who do not meet the high standards expected of them are removed from the service.”