PSNI: Officers made 'degrading comments' about alleged domestic abuse victim

PSNI: Officers made 'degrading comments' about alleged domestic abuse victim

An investigation has revealed that police officers made “degrading and inappropriate comments” about a suspected victim of domestic violence, prompting the issuing of advice to improve their conduct. The comments were recorded on a phone seized during a man’s arrest, where officers referred to the victim as “mental” and possibly suffering from “post-natal depression”. The Police Service of Northern Ireland stated that the officers’ behavior did not meet the expected standards.

During the man’s arrest in 2022, his phone recorded audio that captured the questionable comments made by officers. Following the investigation, it was recommended by the Police Ombudsman that misconduct meetings be held with all four officers involved. However, the decision was made by the PSNI’s Professional Standards Department to only hold a misconduct meeting with one officer and provide advice to the others.

The investigation resulted in three police officers receiving advice on improving their conduct, while a fourth officer faced measures aimed at enhancing performance. The recorded comments and issues with how officers handled the phone led to concerns raised by the Ombudsman report. Chief Executive Hugh Hume emphasized the unacceptability of such behavior towards a woman reporting domestic abuse, stressing the importance of compassion, professionalism, and integrity in police actions.

Despite the misconduct noted in this particular case, Det Supt Julie Mullan from the PSNI’s Professional Standards Department highlighted that the behavior was not reflective of the overall excellent work carried out by police officers in Northern Ireland. The officer who suggested damaging the phone was questioned under criminal caution, although the Public Prosecution Service opted not to proceed with prosecution. The incident underscores the importance of upholding standards and conducting thorough and professional investigations in order to maintain public trust in the police force

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More