Maybe if this police officer had attacked a statue instead of a woman he would’ve been jailed?

[JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/19/west-midlands-police-officer-attacked-woman-pc-oliver-banfield

That is truly appalling.

It doesn't even make sense - he's facing gross misconduct at work and expects to be sacked, so why the fuck would it be 'difficult for him to work with criminals'? Now that he is one that is? It's not a question if not having the time.

And attacks such as this just have to be taken so much more seriously.

I'm assuming it wasn't a stranger attack (the article would surely have mentioned it, if it was). But that's not the point

The embedded video in the article is a difficult watch. He has so much anger in him. I’m almost certain this isn’t the first time he’s been violent.

I cannot understand how he's still being investigated when he's literally been found guilty of assault. Why do they need to investigate further? Sack him for gross misconduct!

This story makes (yet another) mockery of women’s safety in this country.

Apparently she was a total stranger. He needs to be jailed -this is outrageous.

IF ALL police officers are using the line that they must not be jailed -because they are police officers -in my mind that's a moot point -don't attack innocent people.

I find this really shocking.

AuntieStella I think it was a stranger attack as the victim only found out later he was a police officer

@MazekeenSmith

I cannot understand how he's still being investigated when he's literally been found guilty of assault. Why do they need to investigate further? Sack him for gross misconduct!

I think that's what they have underway

Work disciplinaries are an entirely separate procedure to a criminal trial, and it does look as if sacking for gross misconduct is very much on the cards. But even criminals cannot be sacked without following employment law. Wouldn't want a violent criminal winning a dismissal case because of technicalities

If he can be so abusive to a stranger, imagine how abusive he'd be to a partner.
His complete lack of control, and his ability to blame the woman for his behaviour is quite extraordinary. I have no doubt if you asked what had happened he'd believe he was the one being assaulted. Do the police not do aptitude tests as part of their enrolment programmes? If they don't they really should.

@TomBarbara

AuntieStella I think it was a stranger attack as the victim only found out later he was a police officer

If true, that should be a major aggravating factor, and it makes the sentencing even more appalling

@AuntieStella came on to say the same thing! I'm pretty sure it will be an open and shut case but they'll have to follow legal procedures.

Regarding your statues comment, OP - just because new sentencing guidelines are being brought out for people who damage statues, it really doesn't follow that anybody will get shorter sentences for assault. Of course the sentence for this particular case is ludicrous but I don't see why the two issues need to be conflated.

Fucking horrific. They didn't know each other, not that it makes any difference. How he is not in prison is beyond me. If you didn't know this was true you'd find it hard to believe. A Police officer attacks a woman and gets away with it.. because he's a police officer...

Initially the CPS said there was not enough evidence to bring a prosecution. But after Ms Homer appealed with the support of the Centre for Women's Justice, further inquiries were made and Banfield was charged.
Taken from the BBC. They weren't even going to charge him originally

I think conflating the two is relevant. Never have I seen so many ministers as exercised recently as by a statue (of a man hardly anyone knew much about who died about 300 years ago) being chucked into a river. Meanwhile 2 women are killed a week with nothing said and a judge thinks it’s ok to let a violent misogynist cop go free because he can’t be locked up with ‘real’ criminals.

In today’s climate, there would be no way the man wouldn’t be jailed if he had chucked a statue in a canal or sprayed graffiti over it. It’s fucked up.

I read this with horror yesterday.
As a young woman I was always distrusting of most people but never really understood why a lot of people didn’t trust the police.
The older I’ve got the more understanding of why a lot of people don’t like the police I’ve become.
I’ve lost a lot of respect for them over the years.
They are underfunded, the selection process not stringent enough and misconduct appears to be just brushed under the carpet.

Absolutely disgusting decision.

The judge described her as vulnerable, that angers me. There’s only one thing that made her and other women vulnerable and that’s certain men.

‘The judge is the same one who spared the lead singer of Kasabian jail after he carried out an alcohol-fuelled 'sustained assault' on his ex-fiancé’

He and the attacker should be sacked.

He would benefit from a long stint in prison to consider his actions and undergo anger management. The man is a risk to other people if that's how he behaves to a woman in the street.

It should go without saying that he is not a suitable person to be upholding the law and managing vulnerable people which victims and even some perpetrators of crime are.

And I understand your point OP, the outcry over a student peeing on a war memorial way overshadowed this. Obviously that was a very unpleasant and disrespectful act but women are being physically injured with impunity all the time.

Basically a woman’s life is worth £680 and a curfew.

When he attacked her, throttling her neck, drunk and clearly double her size, he didn’t know that he wouldn’t kill her?!

This is so sick!

Well it seems so

A really good point to make

It’s shameful on how society allows male violence to go unpunished yet we can celebrate women being in positions of power and authority

IF ALL police officers are using the line that they must not be jailed -because they are police officers -in my mind that's a moot point -don't attack innocent people.

Another nasty US attitude import - where Police Unions one of few allowed to be powerful - routinely use this excuse to protect members who kill innocent people, sometimes on video. Derek Chuavin, George Floyd's murderer will use it too.

Time ago in the UK when police were caught doing wrong they had the book thrown at them for destroying the public trust. Good cops wanted that rule too because they know they only get to do their jobs safely with public support. Who could think it a good idea for Britain to start down this road of 'police are above the law they serve' mentality ....???

If this is his first violent offence, which is likely if he is a police officer (not saying first violent act, but first conviction) he would be very unlikely to go to prison.

That’s the justice system, nothing to do with him being a police officer.