London's sapphire unit in the news again

[SardineQueen]

BBC

"A detective constable who specialised in rape cases has pleaded guilty to faking police records.

Ryan Coleman-Farrow, 30, from East Sussex, admitted 13 counts of misconduct in a public office at Southwark Crown Court.

He failed to investigate rape and sexual assault cases and falsified entries on a police computer system.

The 13 counts Coleman-Farrow pleaded guilty to relate to 10 rape cases and three cases of sexual assault.

The offences he should have investigated were committed between January 2007 and September 2010, while he was an officer at Kingston-upon-Thames, south-west London, working for Scotland Yard's specialist Sapphire unit.

The court heard he failed to send items for analysis, take witness statements and falsified witness statements."

This is the Met's specialist unit for rape. The Met is the largest police force in the country. The officers in sapphire undergo specialist training in order to work in this unit.

If the Sapphire unit can't get it right (warboys, reid, officers not taking victims seriously etc) then what on earth can be done?

This has left me feeling very defeatist today.

[AmberLeaf]

That's appalling.

As part of his mitigation Coleman-Farrow's physical condition at the time of the charges could be brought up

Mr Heywood said: "We understand that it will be advanced that his physical condition at the time of the offending is relevant to the court's assessment of his culpability

Whats that about?

[SardineQueen]

I expect they will say he was stressed or something.
Maybe he had an injury and was in pain and couldn't cope with workload.
Dunno.

Doubt he will get much in the way of punishment for his actions.

[AmberLeaf]

Pffffft! it was over 3 years, sounds like they are clutching at straws to excuse his utter negligence.

How awful for the women involved.

I'll be watching this story on 11th october to see the outcome.

[SardineQueen]

Yes I'll be watching too.

How awful for the women involved - and what on earth happens to the people who were accused? it's atrocious.