The Abuse of Police Power to Perpetrate Sexual Violence

1. The Abuse of Police Power to Perpetrate Sexual Violence IAWP Conference Durban - September 2013 Det Supt Jackie Alexander Head of PSD – Nottinghamshire Police jackie.alexander@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk Nottinghamshire Police’s response to this key corruption threat

2. Detective Superintendent Jackie Alexander • Joined Nottinghamshire Police 1989 • MA Police & Organisational Management • Detective Superintendent 2003 • 6 years Head of Public Protection Unit (child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, managing dangerous offenders) • Postgraduate certificate in Behavioural Forensic Psychology (sexual offenders) • Head of Professional Standards Directorate 2012

3. Presentation Objectives • Define this abuse of Police Power and explain why this is considered a key corruption threat in British policing • Share learning and examples of good practice that may be utilised by international law enforcement agencies • Give examples of such abuse by Nottinghamshire Police Officers and Officers in other UK forces and how the offences were investigated • Increase public confidence and the reputation of law enforcement • Protect more vulnerable people from such crimes, whoever and wherever they are

4. Why is the UK putting a spotlight on this issue ? • National context and media attention • The criminal law and Police Standards of Conduct • Home Office Guidance • Independent Police Complaints Commission & Association of Chief Police Officers

5. 21 Jan 2010 Police officer accused of seven rapes

6. 27 January 2011 Rochdale policeman admits having sex with suicidal woman he was sent to help

7. Thursday 9 August 2012 Humberside police: ex-detective sentenced for sexual assault on colleague

8. Saturday 10 August 2013 Police investigate 169 staff over predatory sexual behaviour

9. Misconduct in a Public OfficeCriminal offence The offence is committed when: • a public officer (including police) acting as such • wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself •  to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder • without reasonable excuse or justification Maximum sentence of life in prison

10. Police Conduct Regulations The primary purpose of sanctions for misconduct is to protect public confidence in and the reputation of policing

11. Revised Home Office GuidanceNovember 2012 Authority, Respect and Courtesy: Police officers do not use their professional position to establish or pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with a person with whom they come into contact in the course of their duties and who is vulnerable to an abuse of trust or power

12. Independent Police Complaints Commission and Association of Chief Police Officers • Have identified sexual abuse as a key corruption threat to policing in the UK • Launch of joint Ipcc/ACPO ‘Abuse of police powers to perpetrate sexual violence’ report Sept 2012 • Abuse of Power investigation checklist • Ipcc mandatory referrals and enhanced scrutiny

13. Report findings re vetting • Intelligence markers on Police National Database • Maximise every opportunity to prevent officers & staff from engaging in these behaviours • Enhanced internal vetting procedures for sensitive/vulnerable posts

14. Report findings re supervision • Ineffective • Did not know where staff were / what doing for significant periods & ignored behaviours • Need to be alert to ‘the signs’ • Intelligence led dip-sampling of Information Technology • Consider motivation of those who volunteer to deal with vulnerable people • Clear boundaries in respect of acceptable behaviour • Need to nurture a culture of reporting concerns

15. Report general findings • Missed opportunities • Failure to capture/ act upon information, Including behaviour towards colleagues • Need more effective communication of intelligence • Attitudes towards the credibility of vulnerable victims • Need for a ‘specific code of conduct’ between officers/staff and those who use our service or come into contact with us

16. 20 investigations in last 2 years • 1 currently facing trial for rape • 2 officers received prison sentences • Sexual abuse of a child – 6 yrs • Misconduct in a public office – 2 yrs • 1 resigned pending criminal investigation • 1 dismissed for inappropriate lewd acts on a coach • 9 officers & 4 police staff suspended • 2 officers on restricted duties

17. The Nottinghamshire Approach • Task and finish group led by Assistant Chief Constable • Action plan including national recommendations • Local problem profile • Proactive media • Internal communication plan • ‘3ami’ and Blackberry auditing • Bespoke training for front-line supervisors • Academic research • ‘Maintaining Professional Boundaries’ contract • ‘It Started with a Kiss’ training

18. But the real key is this: Start every investigation by believing the victim

19. Impact on Victims I don’t think any are quite as damaged as those who are victims of police officers …the damage is far deeper because they trusted the police …the breach of trust has an enormous effect: they feel that if they can’t trust a police officer, who can they trust? They lose confidence in everyone, even those in authority. It … becomes one of the greatest abuses of power. Debaleena Dasgupta – lawyer representing victims

20. Maintaining professional boundaries contract • Based on GMC guidance • Clarifies division between professional and personal relationships with victims, offenders, & witnesses • A tool to prevent abuse of power and respect the rights of all individuals • Encourages the reporting of concerns • Explains that personal phone details etc should not be given out • Is explicit about officers/staff not entering into inappropriate communication • Advises on considerations in respect of any future relationships

21. Challenge supervisor’s perceptions • Where there is power there will be abuse of power • Officers and staff will abuse their power • It is as likely to be happening within your team as anyone else’s • Abusers not only groom victims, but everyone else around them. They do not want to be caught! • Believe that it happens and we are half way to preventing it

22. OPERATION ARAGONA COMPLEX INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD BY A SERVING POLICE INSPECTOR

23. Initial Allegation and Evidence • Video Interview with child - events over the course of a year escalating shortly after her 13th birthday with Dew penetrating her while he wore tights and skirt • Statement from teacher re disclosure and previous disclosure to school (a teacher had even done a case study) • Witness statement from mother and copies of emails exchanged • Search of Dew’s work systems

24. So Who was Russell Dew? • 44 years old • Previously served in Royal Navy • Transferred from Metropolitan Police • Promoted to Insp and involved in Domestic Violence and Child Abuse • Married with four children (12 yrs - 19 yrs) • Local cricket coach and practising catholic • Well regarded in both local community and work place • ‘A very nice man’ • His image was used for a ‘cut out’ policeman

25. E-mails between Dew and Victim • 0ver 1000 emails exchanged on work system. They demonstrated an obsession with the 12 year old victim and his grooming of her for sexual motivations. Later identified 1000s more on other systems • Emails were recovered from the school system – including one that had been ‘quarantined’ by their security • Most of these e-mails were identified and analysed prior to interview and were key to the investigation and interview strategy

26. The Investigation and Trial • Dew initially denied any wrong doing and remained on remand up until the trial • 40+ indecent images of children, and ‘thumb nail’ images of children as young as 3, were recovered from the family computer • Dew pleaded guilty and was sentenced for six years for offences of sexual activity with a child

27. OPERATION PELICANTHE COMPLEX INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT IN A PUBLIC OFFICE BY A SERVING POLICE OFFICER

28. Initial Allegation • JONES was arrested for the alleged rape of a vulnerable victim following her disclosure to a housing officer • On duty and having just taken a report of criminal damage he kissed, had oral sex with the female complainant, and then engaged in penetrative sexual intercourse • He admitted the acts claiming they were consensual • The victim was an alcoholic and had recently had her children removed • All professionals who engaged with her, including other officers, described her as clearly vulnerable

29. Who was Simon Jones? • Joined South Wales Police in 2007 • April 2010 - transferred to Notts • 33 years old, living with his partner, her children and new born baby • His mobile contained the names of a number of female victims with whom he had come into professional contact and a very significant number of text messages and phone calls to some of these victims • One woman alone received more than 1,000 text messages

30. The investigation and trial • Found guilty of 2 counts of misconduct in a public office against 2 individual victims. The one count was in relation to consensual off-duty sexual intercourse with a witness • A further 5 victims accounts were used as ‘bad character’ • His South Wales police helmet contained the word ‘Deviant’ in large letters

31. Judge Stokes told Jones “To use your position as a police officer in order to engage in reckless sex activities with women who are themselves extremely vulnerable is a very serious matter’’

32. Jones’ partner told the investigating officers I'm so grateful to you all for everything you've done, my life was a lie before, and without your investigation I would still be living that lie, so thank you.

33. The Abuse of Police Power to Perpetrate Sexual Violence IAWP Conference Durban - September 2013 Det Supt Jackie Alexander Head of PSD – Nottinghamshire Police jackie.alexander@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk Nottinghamshire Police’s response to this key corruption threat