1 in 100 police faced charges in 2022, shock f igures reveal
ONE in 100 police officers faced criminal charges, including for sexual offences, last year alone.
The new data shows the number has rocketed almost six-fold since 2012.
The Police Federation, which provides legal support for officers who find themselves on the wrong side of the law, received 1,387 claims in 2022. A decade ago that figure was just 235.
The federation represents around 140,000 serving and former officers in England and Wales and spends millions on lawyers to defend
‘Growing evidence of racism and misogyny’
those accused of misconduct and criminality.
The new data, obtained by The Observer, follows a series of high-profile convictions, including those of murderer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick, which rocked confidence in the police.
Police reform campaign group Netpol accused the Police Federation of being ‘always ready to defend the indefensible’. A spokesman said: ‘For as long as we can remember, the Police Federation has portrayed its members as victims, quickly dismissing most complaints as frivolous and condemning critics of police misconduct.
‘On the rare occasions when officers are sacked or, like Wayne Couzens and David Carrick, convicted of the most abhorrent crimes, the Federation is quick to distance itself from these “bad apples”, despite the growing evidence of a flourishing and largely unchallenged police culture of racism and misogyny.
‘Senior officers insist they intend to restore the damage to public confidence created by a wave of negative stories.
‘On the face of it, the Federation’s willingness to provide material support to an increasing number of officers facing criminal charges, many for sexual offences, makes it a major obstacle to ever achieving this.’
A spokesman for StopWatch, which campaigns for fair and accountable policing, added: ‘We would not be surprised if the figures are an underestimate. The Federation rarely hold a mirror to themselves for accountability’s sake.’
Last week, it was revealed that former Police Federation chairman John Apter would not face charges over two sexual assault complaints.
In 2021, Met Police officer Couzens used his official ID and handcuffs to kidnap 33year-old Sarah Everard from Clapham Common. He later raped and murdered her, and attempted to conceal her body.
Police had missed opportunities to stop Couzens, despite clear warning signs that he was dangerous to women. He was even nicknamed ‘The Rapist’ by colleagues.
Last month, fellow Met officer Carrick was jailed for life for brutally raping and assaulting at least 12 women.
Last week, it was revealed that a Met officer twice caught masturbating on a train was still serving as the force could issue only a written warning.
A Home Office source said: ‘The Home Secretary has ordered forces to root out rogue officers who are unfit to serve. She has commissioned a review which will look to empower chief constables to make it easier to sack rogue officers.’