Police officer who slapped bottoms gets anonymity for mental health

Police officer who slapped bottoms of two female colleagues and put his hand down top of a third in scenes ‘akin to Life on Mars’ is given anonymity to preserve his mental health

• The constableslapped the bottom of one officer, PC C, during a work night out
• On the same night constable – known as PC X – shoved his hand down top of PC B
• Hastings police station was dubbed ‘most sexist in Britain’ after series of probes

A police constable who slapped the bottoms of two female colleagues and plunged his hand down the top of a third cannot be identified because it may harm his mental health and welfare.

The constable – known as Officer X – slapped the bottom of one officer, PC C, during a work night out.

On the same night he also shoved his hand down the top of PC B when she refused to hand over her phone.

Both female officers were left distraught by the incidents which happened at the Albion pub in Hastings in May 2019.

In an earlier incident in 2016 the Sussex Police constable – who was based in Hastings – slapped the bottom of an officer senior to him, Acting Sergeant A, as she bent over a pool table to take a shot.

Today a disciplinary hearing was told his behaviour was like something witnessed in BBC1 TV programme Life on Mars. The show saw officer Sam Tyler – played by John Simm (left) – often at odds with the other characters’ sexism, racism and homophobia

Hastings police station (pictured) was dubbed the ‘most sexist in Britain’ after a series of probes into officers’ behaviour

Today a disciplinary hearing was told his behaviour was like something witnessed in BBC1 TV programme Life on Mars.

Matthew Holdcroft, for Sussex Police, said: ‘It is a total failure to treat women colleagues with any respect or courtesy. 

‘It harks back to a time in the police service that is more akin to the 1970s and what we saw on Life on Mars.’

The show followed a Manchester police officer in 2006 who finds himself mysteriously working for the force in 1973 after being hit by a car.

It saw officer Sam Tyler – played by John Simm – often at odds with the other characters’ sexism, racism and homophobia.

Today the constable, who resigned from the Sussex Police in 2021, was found to have acted in a way which constituted gross misconduct.

Although he did not attend the hearing the officer earlier argued his identity should be kept a secret and his name should not be made public.

Ogheneruona Iguyovwe, the misconduct panel chair, agreed and made an anonymity order. The anonymity order was not opposed by the force.

She said: ‘I consider that it is necessary and proportionate to direct that the officer is granted anonymity in these proceedings for the protection of the health and welfare of the officer and witnesses in the proceedings.

‘In making this decision, I have considered all relevant factors including the physical and mental health and/or welfare of the officer and the wider public interest in the transparency of these proceedings.’

Hastings police station was dubbed the ‘most sexist in Britain’ after a series of probes into officers’ behaviour.

Some officers have been sacked from the force while others have been handed final written warnings.

As well as branding the station the ‘most sexist’ a source admitted a major crackdown on ‘lad culture’ at the Hastings station was launched after complaints by several female officers and members of the public.

Whatsapp and Facebook groups used to exchange explicit sexual messages and images have been shut down, rowdy behaviour has been banned and officers have been read the Riot Act.

At the latest disciplinary hearing, Matthew Holdcroft, for Sussex Police, said all three incidents happened when the officer had joined colleagues for a night out on the town.

In the first incident in 2016 happened in Ye Olde Pumphouse in Hastings during a leaving party for an inspector.

As his senior officer – Acting Sergeant A – bent over a pool table to take a shot Officer X slapped her on the bottom.

The officer claimed her bottom was just four inches from his face as she reached over a pool table to take a shot.

But he admitted that instead of moving away he slapped her bottom causing her to become distressed and upset and rush to the toilet.

Mr Holdcroft said: ‘While sitting on a stool in the pool bar he slapped the bottom of PS A. She had bent over directly in front of him. Her bottom was no more than four inches from his face.

‘He slapped her bottom once with an open palm. Unfortunately his slap was harder than he intended and caused PS A some discomfort.’

Afterwards he swapped Whatsapp messages with another colleague who told him not to worry about repercussions.

The colleague told him: ‘Don’t worry about it. She was being flirty all evening. A slap to the arse is just banter.’

The other incidents happened in May 2019, also on a work night out with colleagues, at the Albion pub in Hastings.

After hearing PC B was using the dating app, Tinder, he began pestering her for her mobile phone saying he wanted to check out her dating profile.

When she refused, the hearing was told, he took her handbag and paraded around the pub with it ‘in attempt to be amusing.’

He then began rifling through it, opening her lip gloss and applying some to his mouth and going through her purse. PC B, however, ignored him.

Officer X asked again to see her phone and when she again refused and tried to take it from her.

Mr Holdcroft said: ‘She said: ‘You’re not going get it if I put it in my bra’ but he replied: ‘That’s not going to stop me.’

He then plunged his hand down the neckline of her top towards her breasts but was fended off by PC B.

On the same night he also approached PC C and slapped her on the bottom in the Albion pub.

Mr Holdcroft said Officer X says he was so drunk he could not remember the incident but claimed the officer had earlier told him: ‘You’re always welcome to slap my bum.’

The panel found all the allegations against Officer X proved and ruled his actions constituted gross misconduct.

Giving her ruling, Ms Iguyovwe, said: ‘The fact he was acting while intoxicated is no excuse, his actions were intentional and deliberate. On more than one occasion he targeted women with persistent, unwanted behaviour and it was clearly intentional.’

The panel ruled the officer would have been dismissed if he hadn’t already resigned from the force. He was barred from ever serving as a police officer again.

Ms Iguyovwe condemned the officer saying his behaviour was ‘laddish’ and ‘loutish’ and raised concerns over the length of time it took the force to take action against him.

She said the panel had considered the effects of persistent violence towards women and girls including harassment.

She said: ‘The officer’s conduct specifically targeted women. We considered his actions were misogynistic and amounted to a harassment of women.’

Jayne Butler, chief executive if Rape Crisis said: ‘This case demonstrates the culture of misogyny within the police. Admitting that you have inappropriately touched a colleague, but excusing this as banter is unacceptable.

‘Granting anonymity to this officer shows us there is more of a willingness to protect abusive police officers than there is to protect those that have been subjected to their abuse.

‘It is essential that the police are doing everything in their power to build up public trust: that means holding abusive officers to account.’

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