Shock figures reveal 1 in 100 police officers faced criminal charges in 2022
Shocking Figures Reveal 1 in 100 Police Officers Faced Criminal Charges in 2022, Including Sex Offenses
- The Police Federation, which provides legal support to police officers on the wrong side of the law, received 1,387 complaints in 2022 alone.
- The data follows a series of convictions, including those of Wayne Couzens and David Carrick.
One in 100 police officers faced criminal charges, including for sexual offences, in the past year alone.
The new data shows that the number has shot up nearly six times since 2012.
The Police Federation, which provides legal support to officers who find themselves on the wrong side of the law, received 1,387 complaints in 2022. A decade ago, that number was just 235.
The federation represents around 140,000 serving and former officers in England and Wales and spends millions on lawyers to defend those accused of misconduct and crime.
The new data, obtained by The Observer, follows a series of high-profile convictions, including those of murderer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick, that have shaken confidence in the police.
One in 100 police officers faced criminal charges, including for sexual offences, in the past year alone (File Image)
Police reform campaign group Netpol accused the Police Federation of being “always ready to defend the indefensible”. A spokesperson said: ‘For as long as we can remember, the Police Federation has portrayed its members as victims, quickly dismissing most complaints as frivolous and condemning critics of police misconduct.
‘On the rare occasions that officers are fired or, like Wayne Couzens and David Carrick, convicted of the most heinous crimes, the Federation is quick to distance itself from these “bad apples”, despite mounting evidence of a burgeoning police force. and largely undisputed. culture of racism and misogyny.
“Senior officials insist they intend to restore the damage to public trust created by a wave of negative stories.
“At first glance, the Federation’s willingness to provide material support to an increasing number of officers facing criminal charges, many of them for sexual offences, makes it a significant obstacle to doing so.”
A spokesperson for StopWatch, which campaigns for fair and responsible policing, added: “We wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers are an underestimate. The Federation rarely looks in a mirror for the sake of accountability.
Last week, it was revealed that former Police Federation President John Apter would not face charges over two allegations of sexual assault.
The new data follows a series of high-profile convictions, including those of murderer Wayne Couzens (left) and serial rapist David Carrick (right), that have shaken trust in police.
In 2021, Met Police Officer Couzens used his official ID and handcuffs to kidnap 33-year-old Sarah Everard from Clapham Common. He later raped and murdered her, and tried to hide her body.
Police had missed opportunities to apprehend Couzens, despite clear warning signs that he was dangerous to women. Even his colleagues nicknamed him ‘The Rapist’.
Last month, Carrick, another Met officer, was jailed for life for raping and brutally assaulting at least 12 women.
Last week, it was revealed that a Met officer who was caught twice masturbating on a train was still serving, as the force could only issue a written warning.
A Home Office source said: ‘The Home Secretary has ordered the forces to remove rogue officers who are unfit to serve. He has commissioned a review that will seek to empower police chiefs to make it easier to fire rogue officers.