Scores of staff have been accused of emotional and physical abuse in the last four years, a freedom of information (FoI) request by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has revealed, but zero have been dismissed in relation to the accusations.
Sixty-seven have been subject to domestic violence complaints between January 2018 to September 2021 — averaging two per month.
Seven were convicted by the force — 10 per cent in total. Investigations into ten of the staff are still ongoing, and another ended because the staff member resigned.
Another eleven staff retired or resigned amid being reported, exempting them from dismissal proceedings.
Under the force’s conduct regulations, a police officer can resign or retire even if they are reported for the crime, drawing any conduct investigations to a close.
Forty eight of the staff accused are still working for Police Scotland.
The figures follow The Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s investigation in 2018 into members of the police exploiting their position to avoid arrest, leaving the victims of abusers struggling to find justice.
The Met came under the spotlight after one of its serving officers, Wayne Couzens, exploited his police powers to kidnap, rape and murder Sarah Everard in March 2021, claiming the 33-year-old woman had broken lockdown rules before placing her under arrest.
Couzens, nicknamed “the rapist” by colleagues, was also arrested for indecent exposure before he was hired by the Met.
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Meanwhile, Sky News is reporting this morning (Friday) that Wayne Couzens has been charged with four counts of indecent exposure which allegedly took place in the weeks before he murdered Sarah Everard, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place between January and February 2021, when Couzens was a serving Metropolitan Police officer.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police, the CPS has authorised four charges of indecent exposure against Wayne Couzens. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 April.”
Sarah Everard was raped and killed in March last year. Couzens is serving a whole-life term for the abduction, rape and murder of Ms Everard.