‘Lorraine’s’ abuser was promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector, despite having two entirely separate rape allegations against him from two people who had no prior knowledge of one another.
‘Sally’, herself a police officer, who reported frequent abusive messages from her ex-partner – an officer with the same force - was incorrectly told “that’s not harassment, we don’t need to record this as a crime.”
New research from Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) reveals shocking levels of domestic abuse by police officers continues and police forces are struggling to tackle the abuse of power or recognise that abuse off duty must be addressed.
On 18 September 2024, CWJ will launch its long awaited report tracking changes to the way police perpetrated domestic abuse (PPDA) is addressed by the police nearly five years on since the publication of their police super-complaint in March 2020.
Since then CWJ has been contacted by more than 200 victim/survivors of PPDA who provide accounts indicating systemic failures continue. The report is based on the accounts of some of these women and a detailed tracking exercise of the deluge of reports, investigations, inspections and inquiries that have been undertaken since the extent and scandal of police violence towards women was exposed.
The report finds there is still ample evidence to show that there are still far too many police officers escaping sanction despite multiple allegations of abuse with some rising through the ranks and even promoted to roles with responsibility for policing rape and domestic abuse. Many women report that the officer they accused attempted to criminalise them and others that they manipulate family law proceedings for revenge.
45% of the women who came forward are themselves police officers or staff and frequently report victimisation if they dare to report a fellow officer. The law as it currently stands affords them lesser rights than ordinary members of the public as they are precluded under the Police Reform Act 2002 from making a complaint against a member of their own force.
‘Rose’ told us that her experience of reporting PPDA to her force: “was one of the worst feelings I have ever had – complete desperation and feeling like I had nowhere to turn for help.” Her experience was so bad that she said she would not report again even if she was physically assaulted.
‘Mary’ had enjoyed an exemplary career with her force prior to reporting domestic abuse by her husband, an officer on the same force. She was initially placed on “compassionate leave”, while her partner continued to work. He now holds a senior role with responsibility for the force’s response to VAWG. She has had to transfer out of the force.
‘Farah’ reported physical assault by her police officer partner and her account was supported by photographs of her injuries. The case was investigated by officers from the same station where her partner worked and he continued to work on full un-restricted duties throughout the investigation.
Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, stated:
“There are entrenched cultures within policing that are resistant to change and without energetic intervention they will continue to harbour misogyny and cover up wrongdoing. The police and those investigating and recommending change must listen to the voices of victim/survivors in order to understand the extent of harm and failure, if they ever hope to restore trust.
“Our report proposes a series of recommendations for reform but it may be that something more radical needs to happen to the institution of policing to tackle the scale of problems we have seen from the ground.”
ENDS