An individual, referred to as Lorraine to protect her identity, has recently received an apology from the Metropolitan Police for mishandling her complaints against a predatory police officer. Lorraine accused the Met of discrediting her instead of investigating PC Phil Hunter, whom she encountered during a welfare visit in 2017. Acting Det Ch Supt Neil Smithson, head of the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS), admitted to “a series of failings” spanning seven years in a letter to Lorraine, acknowledging the lack of proper investigation.
PC Hunter, no longer a police officer, faced disciplinary action and was found guilty of gross misconduct for preying on vulnerable women. Despite Lorraine’s repeated attempts to report him, the Met ignored her complaints. It was later discovered that PC Hunter had engaged in inappropriate behavior, including sending inappropriate messages and manipulating victims into relationships. The DPS admitted that Lorraine’s initial claims were mishandled due to false beliefs about her mental health, which were unfounded.
Furthermore, inaccurate information was circulated about Lorraine within police systems, leading to victim-blaming and negligence. Lorraine expressed her shock at the extent and impact of these errors, highlighting the impact on her mental wellbeing. The letter from the DPS also acknowledged the misuse of her statement in favor of PC Hunter during a misconduct hearing, furthering the trauma she experienced. Despite promised reforms within the Met, Lorraine remains skeptical, feeling unsupported and betrayed by the authorities.
In a systemic review by Baroness Casey in March 2023, Lorraine’s case exemplified the institutional misogyny within the Met, calling for urgent reforms to address the misconduct system. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has emphasized the importance of holding rogue officers accountable, with efforts to bolster the DPS’s investigative capabilities. Lorraine’s battle for justice continues as she demands an investigation into the former head of the DPS, now serving as the chief constable of Wiltshire Police, further underlining the need for transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies
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