Male threatening officers within police. Who to complain to?

[Jessica60]

I have posted this subject previously on the feminism area on MN. I had some very helpful replies but I would like to know if I am being unreasonable in taking my story to the press.

There are many incidents of aggressive, threatening behaviour by a senior rank male officer to female officers. It's just brushed under the carpet, then happens again and he gets moved to the department that deals with these complaints , which prevents other victims complaining. This is the dept you can usually complain to but he was moved there. He has been intimidating getting so close to your face shouting that you think he will head butt you. One woman officer left, 2 that made complaints got called names by other officers and are not trusted now. The other had to apologise to him for because they told someone their story.

There is also another officer that was inappropriate to many female officers and got caught stealing on a course but nothing was done and it was said this was the case as he was in the masons.

So many more examples of how women are bullied and are abusers are protected.

Sorry I can not put much info here as I dont want to be identified.
Would I be unreasonable in going to the press. I feel I can't go anywhere else.
Thank you all.

Is it the kind of situation where body cam can be switched on?

Is there no whistle blowers system (sorry for my ignorance) or overseeing body (like care homes have CQC)?

Like the other poster I'm not familiar with the structure of police. In any other situation where there was a normal structure I would and make a complaint to the next level up however realise that might not be possible here. What about your union? They could probably offer some good advice and support.

I think if you go to the press you need to be fully aware of all the consequences for you. Could you face disciplinary action or even job loss? Are other female police prepared to support you in this or if your identity is revealed could you be ostracised? There's clearly a problem within your area (possibly police wide) towards women who challenge this as some have already been treated differently for speaking out.

I'd be cautious about going to the press but if you've already explored all the alternatives I'd consider approaching other female officers to build a stronger picture.

I don’t think you’ll get anywhere sadly, good luck though.

Thank you all.
Some people have tried to complain within but failed. I don't think I am strong enough for the complaints process.
I think deep down I just wish a journalist would sprout up from somewhere and start digging into harassment of female officers, the secrecy of the masons within police. They will find lots of shocking stories and possibly help the next generation if females who enter the Police.

You would not be unreasonable going to the press, but no one thanks a whistleblower, just be really sure you are up for the fall out.

Are you in touch with the other victims too?

What has the federation said?

If he is in PSD now you can still raise a complaint to be dealt with by others in PSD he obviously would be able to be involved.

Has any of it been captured on BWC at any point? If these occurrences happened at work can you check station CCTV for evidence of him getting in your face?
Any other witnesses?

Do you have any trusted colleagues within your organisation who are Sgt or above who you could go and talk it over with? Initially maybe you could keep his name back to start with to see what they suggest?

Any high ranking people you are close with who could give you some time? Try to talk to them out of work time so nobody could overhear. That's what I would do I think.

Wouldn't * be able to be involved

I hope you and your colleagues find a way to get some justice. We need more female police officers not less.

I don’t think you will get appropriate advice here, you need to approach the federation and PSD and if you’re not satisfied then ask how to take it further. It is definitely not behaviour that should ever be tolerated and should absolutely be investigated but what makes you think that any of the press are in a position to do this? Well done for wanting to stand up to this though, all police forces need people willing to stand up and say when people are not behaving appropriately.

Pick your journalist and your paper carefully, because masons stick with masons and there are plenty of masons in journalism at all levels.

Also, you'll probably lose your job as a whistle blower. I do think it's morally absolutely the right thing to do, but there will be fallout and you're unlikely to come out unscathed.

If a DM journo reads this and wants to do some actual journalism instead of the clickbait junk they're paid to do, who knows what may come of it ;)

So far as I know, most police forces have a whistleblowing policy, don't they? You'd have a far better chance of success with this than with going to the press.

He was put into PSD and promoted. He gets moved around departments. Two women have reported him and he just got moved. I wrote a report to the federation who supported me but told me it was his word against mine, no body worn camera as not in uniform duties and no CCTV. Witnesses saw how upset I was after. I was too weak and still am to fight the old boys club that is this force.

It might be worth contacting twitter.com/jo_bartosch?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor