Kent police come under fire for a poster classifying serious sexual assaults as non-emergency crimes

Kent police are facing a protest after internet users shared images of a banner displayed in the window of their station in Maidstone classifying rape and sexual assault as “non-emergency” offences.

The poster, a black-and-white A4 printout, explained to passers-by how “non-emergency inquiries” can be shared with police via an online form, listing rape and sexual assault in the same category as antisocial behavior. , fraud and traffic incidents.

A snapshot of the poster has made the rounds on social media, with one user writing a message to Kent police saying: ‘This just goes to show how bad this country is getting!

How can such a horrible and violent crime be downplayed?

‘I understand that it is difficult to prove, but doing it like this is not the way. Absolute tools.

Another chimed in: ‘Kent Police in solidarity with the Met’, following the release of a damning report describing the Met Police as ‘broken and corrupt’ from a year-long review of the organization by the Baroness Louise Casey.

Kent Police said the poster was on display at Maidstone Police Station and has since been removed.

The image of the poster was shared on March 15. It is unclear when the sign was first displayed, although a Kent police spokesman said The Telegraph it had since been removed.

“The poster in question was placed by a member of police staff on the counter at Maidstone Police Station but has since been removed and replaced with a poster clarifying our advice on how best to report crimes to us,” the officer said. spokesman.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Banks, head of protection of vulnerable people at Kent police, said the force takes the investigation of sexual assaults “extremely seriously”.

She said: ‘We urge anyone to call us on 999 if there is a crime in progress or if someone is in immediate danger. Doing so can mean the difference between arresting a suspect at the scene and, in some cases, saving a life.

“Kent Police take the investigation of domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault very seriously and we encourage victims to come forward and talk to us.

‘They can report crime anonymously and can also reach out to us through a variety of support organisations.

“All reports of rape or sexual assault, made through any channel, are reviewed by a Detective Sergeant and are ultimately overseen by a senior officer as part of a comprehensive review process intended to to guarantee justice and support for all victims”.

Social media users shared images of the poster and criticized Kent Police.

One social media user said Kent police stand in solidarity with the Met, referring to an explosive new report from Baroness Louise Casey (pictured) that Scotland Yard is “broken” and its ranks “rotten” riddled with racism, misogyny and homophobia.

Anger at Kent Police comes as a new bombshell report claims the Met Police cannot be trusted to police themselves and may harbor many more predatory officers such as Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick.

In the most damning report in its nearly 200-year history, the force is described as institutionally racist and corrupt, as well as misogynistic and homophobic.

Baroness Casey, who spent a year examining Scotland Yard’s culture and practices, said there was a “rot” at her heart that allowed racism to go unchallenged and predatory behavior “to flourish”.

She said successive Met commissioners had “failed to ensure the integrity of its officers and organization.”

She demanded a “complete overhaul” of the £4bn service, saying anything less would be “holding on to straws”.

Baroness Casey warned that there was nothing to stop other rapists in the ranks, adding: “In the absence of vigilance towards those who try to abuse the police position, predatory and unacceptable behavior has been allowed to flourish.” There are too many places for people to hide.

Characterizing a culture of ‘blindness, arrogance and prejudice’, his report identified flaws in almost every department, which have been ignored due to a ‘culture of denial and defensiveness’.

In conclusion, Baroness Casey said that the force had lost public confidence and had become “unanchored” from the founding principles laid down by Robert Peel in 1829.

“The Met is in danger of losing its way: consent is broken,” he said. “Too often, the Met appears to be acting in its own interest rather than the interests of the public it serves.”