PSNI: Almost 40 officers investigated over sex complaints

There have been internal investigations into 39 PSNI officers for alleged sexual misconduct in the last five years, police figures show.

The PSNI released the information following a Freedom of Information request.

Five of the complaints were upheld, with three officers being dismissed, two of whom were jailed.

However, the police have said that figure "does not account for matters which are still ongoing".

They said these "may yet result in an allegation being upheld, and a formal sanction being administered".

Two officers against whom complaints were upheld continue to serve in the police, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton confirmed to BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme.

Six officers under investigation resigned, and six cases are ongoing, the police added.

Dep Ch Con Hamilton said of the three officers dismissed, all were found to have committed misconduct in public office for sexual gain, while one was also convicted of possessing indecent images.

"We have an officer in prison for two years who was sentenced this summer we have also an officer who was sentenced to prison for possession of indecent images," he told Talkback.

"We have six cases of a sexual nature and we've about seven domestic violence cases ongoing at the minute as well and some of the cases overlap between domestic abuse and sexual offences."

He also said that the matter was discussed by the PSNI's "senior team" on Tuesday morning.

"We're very willing and open to looking at the issue, certainly at the levels of sanction being administered and whether they are appropriate," he said.

"And the discussion we had about automatic dismissal was on the table this morning."

He added: "Be under no illusions, I don't want them in the police service."

The story first appeared in the Belfast Telegraph which said that while four officers were investigated for such misconduct in 2016/17, 13 were investigated in 2019/20 and 10 in 2020/21.

In 2017/18, five officers were investigated and in 2018/19 there were seven.

Dep Ch Con Hamilton said the police service works to strict guidelines about inappropriate behaviour and independent, confidential reporting phones lines are available for both members of the public and police service colleagues to raise any concerns.

"Any allegation, disclosure or conviction of sexual harassment or abuse perpetrated by an officer or member of staff is robustly investigated."

Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsey said that sexual misconduct was "abhorrent and wrong" and that it was right that allegations were "rigorously and professionally investigated".

"Officers are expected to uphold the law and not use their position to either harass or subject vulnerable people to any sexual wrongdoing," he said.

"Actions where criminal or misconduct matters occur are the actions of a few and do not represent the dedicated service our colleagues provide on a daily basis."

He said police officers must work together to ensure that potential criminal actions by officers are detected as soon as possible.

Former justice minister, East Londonderry assembly member Claire Sugden, said it must be asked whether the disciplinary process is robust enough.

"The public put their trust in the police to keep them safe, so I do think that they are held to a different standard," she said.

"I think we need to have a conversation generally within society and within organisations about sexual behaviour, about sexual misconduct and about sexual assault."