An officer with the Metropolitan Police has been fired after a misconduct panel found that he had assaulted a young girl on multiple occasions. Ross Benson had reportedly spanked the 12-year-old girl between April and August 2018, with the force acknowledging that the girl was known to him. Despite being off duty during the incidents, there was a sexual element to the encounters. Following the disciplinary hearing that ensued, Benson was fired without notice and placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing.
Benson had been working in the North West Basic Command Unit in London, before being dismissed due to his behavior. While Bedfordshire Police arrested Benson on suspicion of sexual assault in November 2020, no further action was taken in September 2021. The police then informed the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who then conducted a misconduct investigation. The investigation concluded on Friday that Benson had committed gross misconduct and had breached the professional behavior standards expected of a police officer.
In response to the news, Detective Superintendent Will Lexton-Jones made a statement expressing his thoughts and support for the victim. He also stated that there was no room for officers who fell short of the high standards that were expected of them. Lexton-Jones’s hopes were for the outcome of the case to prove that the police were committed to rooting out bad actors and to maintaining a strong culture within the police force.
This latest incident highlights how the expectations of police conduct remain incredibly high. While the Met has been in the news recently for controversial policing tactics, Benson’s case is unique and proves the extent to which the police force goes to maintain a high standard. Officers like Benson who failed to meet those standards faced severe consequences, cutting short what would have otherwise been a promising career
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