Independent Police Complaints Commission
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IPCC announces independent investigation into historic sexual assault complaint handling

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has begun an investigation into how complaints made by Avon and Somerset officers into alleged sexual assaults by a police staff member were handled.

The allegations involve former police surgeon Dr Reginald Bunting, who was employed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary between 1972 and 2006, and who died in 2013.

It is alleged by a number of present and former Avon and Somerset officers and staff that Dr Bunting committed sexual offences against them. It is also alleged that when a number of officers came forward on separate occasions throughout the 1990s to complain about Dr Bunting, those complaints were not properly investigated by the force. 

In July this year, Avon and Somerset Constabulary referred the allegations of sexual assault against Dr Bunting to the IPCC, which asked for more information to be able to determine the level of investigation required.

IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts said: “We have decided to independently investigate how the complaints made by serving officers about Dr Bunting were dealt with on several occasions in 1990 and 1995. The IPCC is not investigating the sexual assault allegations against Dr Bunting.”

Avon and Somerset Constabulary have arranged for an independent, retired officer from Merseyside Police to lead the criminal investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Dr Bunting.

 

Channel website: https://policeconduct.gov.uk/

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