More allegations of abuse within the police have been reported
Further allegations of abuse within the police have been made, this time against Devon and Cornwall police. If you require guidance on making a compensation claim, then contact our free confidential legal helpline on freephone 0333 888 0419 or email us at [email protected]
It is alleged that Devon and Cornwall police have protected their own officers who have been accused of sexual and physical abuse. Seven women have reported unrelated offences against both serving and former police officers.
Offences which have been reported include rape, harassment, stalking, physical abuse, mental abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. All seven women were in relationships with the men accused.
One victim, who is a former police officer herself, having served thirty years, had been physically assaulted. The assault was witnessed by her neighbour. However, when police attended, they disregarded both accounts, along with her bruises and scratches, and failed to take action. It later transpired that the attending police officers knew her ex-partner.
Another serving officer endured abuse over a fourteen year period which she reported to the force. Despite this, the male police officer was successful in securing two promotions and became a leader in the movement tackling violence against women and girls.
It is alleged that some of the serving perpetrators bragged to other colleagues that the force had “made things go away,” with allegations that it is common for the police to protect their own.
In 2021, the National Police Chief’s Council and College of Policing introduced a new framework for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This framework seeks to prioritise offences of this nature, pursue perpetrators and ensure victims are heard. Also in 2021, an HMIC report concluded that every female respondent within the Devon and Cornwall Police force stated that they had experienced sexual harassment or discrimination within the workplace. A few years on, it appears that victims are still not being heard and offenders are still not being brought to justice.
Police have a duty to act, but on these occasions they failed to record crimes, or take them seriously, failed to obtain evidence and failed the victims by appointing those known to the perpetrators to investigate their crimes. The force has been accused of “systematic failures” for not taking the basic steps required. This has led to some of the victims losing trust in the police, with one claiming that if she had to start again, then she would choose not to report the crime to the police due to the way they handled matters.
It has been alleged that none of the perpetrators in these cases have been properly investigated for either criminal matters or misconduct.
It is reported that most of these women came forward after the publication by the Centre for Women’s Justice of the ‘super complaint’ which addressed police perpetrated domestic abuse (PPDA). This report was published in 2020 and covers common themes and evidence to support the failures of forces in addressing PPDA and delves further into how victims have been failed.