IPCC identifies failings in Wiltshire Police complaints handling

17 Sep 2015 02:54 PM

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has identified failings in the way Wiltshire Police dealt with complaints about its handling of sexual abuse allegations.

Following a thorough investigation, the IPCC found the complaints lodged against Wiltshire Police in 2008 and 2009 were not taken seriously enough by three officers; the force’s former Chief Constable Patrick Geenty, an inspector and a detective constable.

The investigation also found evidence that information provided to the complainants by both Mr Geenty, who was then Assistant Chief Constable, and the inspector was unclear and open to interpretation. However, the investigation did not find any clear evidence that the officers deliberately misled the complainants.

The IPCC found cases to answer for misconduct against all three officers in that they may have breached their Standards of Professional Behaviour. Two misconduct meetings, in respect of the inspector and detective constable, were convened by Wiltshire Police in September 2015.

The inspector was issued with a written warning after misconduct was proven in that the officer should have recorded and investigated two related complaints. Misconduct allegations against the detective constable were not proven.

Mr Geenty retired from Wiltshire Police in June 2015. Under current legislation, police forces are unable to hold misconduct meetings in respect of former officers.

IPCC Deputy Chair Sarah Green said:

“We thoroughly investigated the conduct of the officers in this case and found that the complaints were not responded to as they should have been. It is vital that the public are confident that police forces will take their complaints seriously and that complainants are provided with clear information.”

Notes to editors:

• Given the sensitive nature of the original sexual abuse allegations, the IPCC will not be disclosing details of those original allegations or publishing its full report.
• In September 2015, Wiltshire Police convened independent disciplinary meetings against the two officers. The meetings found an allegation of misconduct against the inspector in this case proven and the force issued a written warning against the officer. A similar allegation of misconduct against the detective constable was not proven and no further action will be taken against the officer.