Six Notts officers 'failed' rape victim
Six constables from Nottinghamshire Police have faced a gross misconduct hearing after failing to adequately record or investigate an allegation of rape.
PC Daniel Mitchell and PC Jake Self attended a four-day gross misconduct hearing at Force HQ at Sherwood Lodge from Monday 23 March to Thursday 26 March. Former PC George Ginger, former PC Lucie Willett and two former police constables – who have both resigned and have been granted anonymity – also faced charges of gross misconduct but did not attend the hearing.
The hearing heard that the six officers attended a Nottingham flat at 1.45am on 1 January 2025, following reports a woman would not leave the address and had assaulted someone inside the property.
When police arrived at the scene, they found a woman in bed with a man, with two other men situated in the flat, all of whom were intoxicated.
The woman was then arrested for breaching the peace when she failed to comply with their instructions. She informed the officers on multiple occasions while this happened that she had been raped. No allegations were investigated, and no steps were taken to safeguard the woman who then left the scene.
When she was contacted on 6 January by an officer who was not part of the misconduct proceedings, she once again stated that she was a victim of rape. She was then offered all the necessary support, and an investigation was opened into the incident.
Having reviewed body-worn footage of the police response on 1 January, officers referred the incident to Nottinghamshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate (PSD) and that resulted in this week’s gross misconduct hearing.
The panel found all six officers who attended the incident had breached standards of professional behaviour, including honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities, and discreditable conduct.
PC Mitchell, along with PC Ginger and one of the unnamed PCs, had claimed not to have heard the woman’s claims, but the panel found this was not credible. PC Self, the only officer to give evidence to the panel, apologised for his actions but also insisted he had not heard the woman allege she had been raped on the night. The panel, however, found that it was more likely than not that he had heard what she’d said.
They also ruled it was not credible that he hadn’t heard the allegations when reviewing body-worn footage of the incident the following day.
PC Willett admitted to all but one allegation – not treating the woman with dignity and respect – but the panel found this allegation had been proven.
Having highlighted that the actions of the six officers “eroded public confidence in the police”, the panel ruled that both PC Mitchell and PC Self be dismissed without notice. They also found that former PC George Ginger, former PC Lucie Willett and the two former police constables granted anonymity would’ve each been dismissed if they were still serving.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Hooks, who chaired the hearing, said: “The six officers in this case should have shown the victim dignity, compassion and respect. They all failed in their duties that night. There is absolutely no excuse for why these officers acted the way they did, and they have now all been dealt with accordingly.
“Their actions have the potential to undermine the public’s trust in us when reporting serious crimes such as rape and have far-reaching consequences. This cannot be allowed to happen. I want to be absolutely clear with the public that we have excellent officers across our organisation who work with victims of rape and serious sexual assaults every day to ensure they are given the support they need and that perpetrators are held to account. All of that great work was undermined by the disgraceful conduct of these officers that night.
“These types of offences are some of the most sensitive and complex cases we investigate, while we know the devastating impact these crimes can have on people’s lives. Ensuring the voices of survivors are heard and that they feel able to come forward are both vital aspects of how we investigate these harrowing incidents.
“Keeping vulnerable members of our communities safe is – and always will be – the main priority for Nottinghamshire Police. As such, the actions of these officers do not represent the values of this police force. If you are a victim of rape or sexual assault, we want you to know that we will listen and we will take action, so please continue to report what happened to you to us.”