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sexual misconduct And Discrimination complaints The number of cases against police officers has doubled in five years – but more than half of the claims are not investigated, Independent Can reveal.
Analysis of data by the police watchdog shows forces received 404 complaints of sexual misconduct in 2024-25 – the highest number on record in a single year – and up from 199 in 2020-01.
Gender discrimination claims also saw a significant surge, with a record number of complaints – 645 – in 2023-24 alone.
Complaints, which include claims of sexual assault, harassment and abuse of position for sexual gain, have grown at twice the rate over the past five years than all other allegations made against officers. Independent Shows. Despite this, 51 percent of claims between 2020 and 2024 were not investigated.
comes after revelation Harmful new footage from bbc panorama Culture of misogyny exposed in Metropolitan Police officials Exposed for making sexual comments about women and denies allegations rape,
met the police Commissioner Sir mark rowley Apologized for the “reprehensible and completely unacceptable” behavior of the officers filmed in the recording. charing cross police station and said that it was likely that all the accused serving officers would be dismissed within a few weeks.
Shadow Police Minister Matt Vickers described the increase in complaints as “extremely worrying”, while Chief Constable Craig Guildford, head of complaints and misconduct at the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), stressed that the force is “determined to root out those who are not fit to wear the uniform”.
Overall, forces across the country have received 1,499 complaints about officers’ sexual conduct and 2,320 complaints of gender discrimination since 2020, according to data from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The majority of sexual conduct complaints – 70 percent – were for sexual harassment in 2023-04, the latest full year of details available.
There were also dozens of claims alleging that police abused their positions for sexual purposes, or to pursue inappropriate emotional relationships; 412 complaints were filed by the IOPC since 2020.
As the country’s largest police force, the Met has had the highest number of complaints of sexual conduct, but these represent a small proportion of all complaints against the force.
Maxim Rawson, head of policy at the charity Rape Crisis England & Wales, said that although the increase in complaints was “disturbing”, following a series of high-profile cases in recent years, more survivors may feel more able to report their experiences.
This also includes rape and murder sarah everard by off-duty police officer Wayne Couzens in 2021, who lures her into his car under the pretext of arrest.
And David Carrick, serial rapist and former police officer Who committed sex crimes over two decades, and used his status to prevent his victims from reporting him.
Ms Everard’s murder sparked a scathing police review which found “forces had ignored or downplayed allegations of misconduct”.
In the wake of her murder, in 2021, the launch of Operation Soteria – aimed at improving rape investigations – and the IOPC’s you have a voice The campaign has been credited with increasing reporting about crimes.
However, while total police complaints have increased by 54 per cent since 2020, allegations of sexual conduct have doubled over the same period, by 103 per cent.
“It is now vital that all police forces take any complaints made to them seriously, treat all victims with dignity, trust and respect and take action to highlight any unreported sexual violence perpetrated by police,” Ms Rawson warned.
Tory MP Mr Vickers told Independent: “Any increase in complaints of sexual misconduct is extremely worrying.
“It is vital that victims of these terrible crimes have full confidence that they will be taken seriously and prompt action will be taken.”
He said, “The majority of our police officers work around the clock to keep us all safe. Officers who abuse their power let the public and their colleagues down.”
CC Guildford said: “Although it is painful to read about such behaviour, the police chief is determined to support those who report it and is resolute in his approach to tackling it.”
He said “significant changes” in investigation and misconduct procedures in 2020 were already leading to the dismissal of rogue officials, but acknowledged there was still “way to go”.
“We know we have more to do […] “To ensure that we continue to build public trust and confidence, which is very easily eroded by the actions of a small minority,” he said.
“Ensuring strong disciplinary action against such individuals is absolutely vital to send a declarative message that such behavior will not be tolerated.”
Abuse victims can travel for free 24/7 rape and sexual abuse helpline From the charity Rape Crisis. you can make one Complaint to IOPC Here.