Claims for Police Sexual Misconduct
According to the figures demonstrated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), there is a growing increase of Metropolitan police officers and staff abusing their position for sexual purposes. The IOPC found that referrals made in England and Wales in 2020 were almost double the referrals made in 2016. In the 4 years between 2016 and 2020, there were 643 referrals for abuse of position which prompted 206 independent investigations.
Following the tragic case of Sarah Everard who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by Metropolitan Police Officer Wayne Couzens in 2021, the Met has appointed various measures to rebuild public trust. Measures include the appointment of Baroness Casey of Blackstock to conduct a review of Met culture and standards. Despite the procedures implemented to combat police sexual misconduct, there are still continuous reports being made of Met officers abusing their positions of power and authority.
What is police sexual misconduct?
The term sexual misconduct covers a vast range of behaviours including sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual touching, taking/sending indecent images, stalking, making degrading remarks of a sexual nature, etc. Sexual misconduct can also include criminal sexual assault such as rape and other forms of sexual violence. Police sexual misconduct is a serious type of corruption carried out by members of the police force who abuse their positions of power to exploit the members of society whom they are supposed to protect.
According to the Guardian in late 2021, there have been at least 750 allegations of sexual misconduct made against serving police officers across Britain over five years, with the highest number made against Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Police sexual misconduct – what can you claim for?
When claiming police sexual misconduct, you usually claim compensation from the Chief Constable of the responsible police force rather than suing the individual police officer/s responsible. To claim against the police force the officer/s works for, you have to prove vicarious liability, which is the rule of law that the person, whether an officer or other member of staff, was abusing their position of power during their employment.
Whilst all cases of police sexual misconduct are different, most survivors of this heinous abuse of power can claim basic damages including sexual assault/battery, psychological effects, and also the distress and humiliation they have suffered. You can also claim for special damages which include the costs of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to aid recovery from the psychological damage as a result of the sexual misconduct.
Police sexual misconduct compensation
If you have experienced police sexual misconduct and are eligible for compensation, the amount you will receive depends on the severity of your case. Every police sexual misconduct case is different; to discuss your potential claim please get in touch with our team of dedicated solicitors here at Abuse Claims UK at [email protected].
How to begin your police sexual misconduct claim
Despite police officers being employed across the UK to protect its citizens, members of this institution can abuse this power for sexual gain. If you have experienced police sexual misconduct, you are not alone. At TDP Solicitors, we offer our clients a No Win, No Fee arrangement. In other words, unless you win your compensation claim you don’t have to pay a penny. For more information, contact our team of empathetic, experienced solicitors at [email protected].