New revelations about the extent of sexual harassment in British police
British police passing Scotland Yard, February 14, 2022. © TOLGA AKMEN / AFP
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1 min
A survey by the weekly
The Observer
testifies to the large number of investigations concerning officers for cases of harassment or sexual assault.
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With our correspondent in London,
Sidonie Gaucher
1,387 British police officers are under investigation for violence and sexual offences,
reveals
The Observer
this Saturday.
Nearly 80 officers are currently being prosecuted for inappropriate behavior.
In reality, most aggressors quit before being arrested.
The article mentions a dozen officers who even remained in post.
In general, the victims are vulnerable people who seek help from the police.
Often, the officers pretend to protect the victim in order to abuse her, as can be seen on the
Police Me Too
website , which gathers testimonies.
These revelations echo those of police officer David Carrick who, in January, confessed to dozens of additional crimes, after having already admitted twenty rapes.
He was the colleague of Wayne Couzens, the police officer who raped and killed Sarah Everard, in March 2021.
A “necessary” reform of the police
In mid-February, one of the London police officials explained that Scotland Yard must clean up, but that the process will be “
slow and painful
”, but “
necessary
”.
"
This is how we will reform
" to "
become an institution that Londoners can trust
", he added.
During David Carrick's sentencing, Scotland Yard chief Mark Rowley had already warned that tackling "
systemic failures will take[it] time
" and would lead to other "
difficult cases
" coming to light.
►Also read: After a rape case, the London police make their mea culpa
(
And with
AFP)
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