Domestic abuse by police officers

endofthelinefinally · 2021-05-18T19:27:29+00:00

Just listened to the channel 4 report on this. Shocking, but sadly not surprising. How on earth can this be tackled?

Lockdownlifting12344555 · 18/05/2021 20:29

Do you have a link OP? Thank you

Original poster

endofthelinefinally · 18/05/2021 20:36

Just watched on channel 4 news. I am not sure how to find a link. They are talking about he murder of a private detective and police corruption now!

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Original poster

endofthelinefinally · 18/05/2021 20:43

www.channel4.com/news/more-than-100-women-accuse-police-officers-of-domestic-abuse-alleging-boys-club-culture

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Original poster

endofthelinefinally · 19/05/2021 08:17

I am surprised there is no interest in this, given recent, tragic events.
I remember reading a horrific thread on here, years ago, about a woman in a violent, abusive marriage with a police officer. All his colleagues supported, covered up and sabotaged her attempts to escape and protect her dc. I often wondered if she managed to get out.

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QuentinBunbury · 25/05/2021 11:43

It's a well known phenomenon in police forces I think. There is definitely a culture of protecting their own, not surprisingly given the work they do and the kinds of people who might make complaints. But I think that provides perfect cover that misogynist and sexual predators can exploit.

This article details one officers experience and her Facebook video is well worth a watch too if it's still up

www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/former-new-forest-police-officer-slams-hampshire-forces-sexist-culture-9193223/

WaterfallsAtDusk · 25/05/2021 11:48

My XH was a violent ex-police officer. I found that the police and had no interest after the first assault, which amounted to what I suppose was ABH. They were very proactive once he became more violent, he was successfully prosecuted and went to prison. The officer in charge had pushed for a more serious charge than the CPS agreed to.

Lovemusic33 · 25/05/2021 11:51

Sad that I don’t find it shocking, it’s been well known for years that DV happens a lot in homes of police workers.

But as a victim of DV myself I have to say that my experience of the police was very professional and they were very understanding.

I do feel that it takes a certain type of person to work in the police force and that some (not all) are their for the power trip so it doesn’t surprise me that so many have been abusive towards their partners .

I met a high ranking police officer via a dating app, it became clear pretty quickly what type of person he was and that he got off on the power he had through his work. He was clearly using his power to use and abuse young women, none of these women would ever say anything because who would listen to them?

Fallingirl · 26/05/2021 02:55

When a group of police officers were suspended after sharing gross Whatsapp messages after the Sarah Everard murder, someone suggested regular checks of police officers social media accounts.

That sounds like a very good idea. Likewise for anybody applying to join the police. Anyone sharing anything misogynist should be out.

There could likewise be regular checks of internet histories. It would obviously not catch every abuser; a lot would just be more careful around clearing their search histories and not sharing their thoughts, but it is better than nothing. Clearly a lot has to be done, this is not a minor problem.

These abusive men are not only a problem for their wives, they are undesirable in the police force altogether. Which woman could trust the police in a domestic crisis, if another domestic abuser responds to her call?

Wether the abusive officers would be less abusive if they had been prevented from joining the police is anybody’s guess, but at least some are likely to feel more entitled by their job title.

Thurlow · 26/05/2021 08:39

@Fallingirl

When a group of police officers were suspended after sharing gross Whatsapp messages after the Sarah Everard murder, someone suggested regular checks of police officers social media accounts.

That sounds like a very good idea. Likewise for anybody applying to join the police. Anyone sharing anything misogynist should be out.

There could likewise be regular checks of internet histories. It would obviously not catch every abuser; a lot would just be more careful around clearing their search histories and not sharing their thoughts, but it is better than nothing. Clearly a lot has to be done, this is not a minor problem.

These abusive men are not only a problem for their wives, they are undesirable in the police force altogether. Which woman could trust the police in a domestic crisis, if another domestic abuser responds to her call?

Wether the abusive officers would be less abusive if they had been prevented from joining the police is anybody’s guess, but at least some are likely to feel more entitled by their job title.

I have several friends and family members in the police and I’m not going to disagree that it is a problem. It’s not the police per se, but more that the type of individual who is more likely to be a domestic abuser is more likely to be attracted to certain roles, such as police or military, if their personality wants the exercise of power.

It would be completely wrong to tar all police officers with this brush.

I know of an incident of DV that occurred between two police officers and it was taken incredibly seriously and the perpetrator was kicked out of the force - no covering up happened.

But you can’t say that all serving police officers should have their internet and social media monitored all the time. Apart from the massive investment of time and resources to do that, most officers are neither misogynist or racist and that would be a massive invasion of privacy to go through their social media on a regular basis.

leftout1 · 26/05/2021 08:57

I'm married to a Police Officer, and I've never heard of this. Absolutely no domestic violence here. He is 6 ft 3, and built like a brick shit house. Never ever laid a finger on me. No signs of any domestic abuse among any of our cop friends either.

On the other hand, my ExH, who is a Director of a large Bank, was violent towards me a few times.

I don't think you can generalise.

leftout1 · 26/05/2021 08:58

Which woman could trust the police in a domestic crisis, if another domestic abuser responds to her call?

You honestly think that a cop would blue light it to a call, and then attack the caller when he got there? Come on now....

Original poster

endofthelinefinally · 26/05/2021 09:03

I don't think anyone is saying that an officer called out would attack the victim. What the article was about was the closing ranks, the covering up, the collusion. Unfortunately that sort of behaviour is reported sometimes. Not taking women's reports of stalking/ domestic abuse seriously, then the victim ends up dead.

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QuentinBunbury · 26/05/2021 10:17

I don't think you can generalise.

I think it would protect women a lot better if the police recognised that it is a profession that potentially attracts abusive men and did more screening. And there were more serious consequences for officers that were abusive.

NoMoreAngelDelight · 26/05/2021 10:24

How about it would be a lot better if the government gave sufficient powers to the police to protect anyone from domestic violence?

feelingsadtoday2021 · 26/05/2021 11:15

@Fallingirl

What a strange suggestion, how on earth would anyone be able to access peoples search history,

Rustyigloo · 26/05/2021 11:56

Many moons ago I worked in the DV dept of the police (civilian).
If a victim contacted us and their partner was an officer there were ways and means of supporting the victim without the perpetrator and his "buddies" from finding out.
The culture in our dept combined with a ferocious DCI meant that we would have kicked the perpetrator into next week given the chance. A lot of officers hated him but the amount of energy he put into getting results for victims was amazing.