Just 13 of 1,500 police workers accused of abusing women were fired, data shows

13 March 2023 , 19:50

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The figures were revealed amid ongoing anger at cases including that of Wayne Couzens (Image: METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett)

Only 13 out of 1,539 police ­officers and staff accused of mistreating women and girls in a six-month period were sacked, figures reveal.

Five incidents were recorded a day on average – with allegations including sexual assault, harassment and discreditable conduct.

But the National Police Chiefs Council revealed figures today showing

It came amid ongoing anger at the cases of serial rapist PC David Carrick, 48, and killer Met officer Wayne Couzens, 50.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs said: “Victims and survivors need to see robust action by the police as confidence remains at an all-time low and I welcome this report. It shows forces are taking steps in the right direction. There is still a long way to go.”

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In all, nearly two offences of violence were recorded against women every minute between October 2021 and March 2022 – a total of 507,827 attacks.

Serial rapist David Carrick was a Met Police officer (REX/Shutterstock)

But Women’s Aid chief Farah Nazeer said only 6% ended with a charge, adding: “These statistics have worrying implications for women’s already low levels of trust in the justice system.”

The NPCC said a total of 672 people were probed internally for conduct by police forces in England and Wales, while 867 were subject to complaints from the public. Of the conduct cases, 167 have been resolved, with 13 officers and staff sacked.

The cases involve 195 separate allegations, of which 136 – or 70% – resulted in no further action.

For the public complaints, 290 cases involving 314 allegations have been resolved, with 91% ending with no further action.

Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, NPCC co-ordinator for violence against women and girls, said: “We need to be harsher in the sanctions we are imposing on anyone where there are allegations of this type of behaviour.”

The figures come after the jailing of Carrick, who was reported nine times. He had been in the same Met unit as Couzens, who killed Sarah Everard in 2021.

The Centre for Women’s Justice has also raised concerns about how police deal with domestic abuse claims against officers and staff.

It said any that do not result in misconduct hearings should still be “significant intelligence”, adding: “We saw in Couzens and Carrick the failure to take action or link repeated reports can have devastating consequences.”

Tom Pettifor