Another Met Police Officer rapist

SereneSemolina · 2022-11-30T22:54:36+00:00

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-63812407 Absolutely terrifying.

pattihews · 30/11/2022 23:08

I ought to be shocked, but I've learned so much in recent months about how abusers are drawn to positions in the the police force, medicine, social work and so on that I'm all out of surprise.

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 01/12/2022 00:19

He's a volunteer so it's not his actual job

Can't remember much about vetting for volunteers, expect it's not as stringent.

stillvicarinatutu · 01/12/2022 00:26

Read this tonight with a sinking heart .

Dear god can this job get any more bad press ? I'm swimming against a tide full of fucking sewerage.

He will get what he deserves. And as a cop (special constable or not ) he won't get an easy time inside . Which is exactly where he should be going. God willing.

Original poster

SereneSemolina · 01/12/2022 11:09

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 01/12/2022 00:19

He's a volunteer so it's not his actual job

Can't remember much about vetting for volunteers, expect it's not as stringent.

Is it not even scarier then that they get given a warrant car/inform and tools of the job so they can then use them to garner respect/authority etc.

Is it even appropriate to have front line volunteers in a professional role in this way? Volunteers in hospitals get asked to sort the flowers and magazines, they don't get given a inform and the keys to the drugs!

OP posts:

namitynamechange · 01/12/2022 11:23

Is it even appropriate to have front line volunteers in a professional role in this way
In general I think yes. For all sorts of reasons, not least of which that the police force isn't some distinct elite force of "professionals". In theory (not practice alas) but the police are members off the public with the honour of a full time job upholding the law and being paid for it. Special constables are members of the public who volunteer to do this in their spare time as a way of giving back to the community. It can actually serve to broaden the types of people serving, and enforce the fact that the police should serve/be part of their community. However the vetting needs to be as stringent as for the regular police (and that needs to be more stringent).

FOJN · 01/12/2022 11:48

I'm troubled not only by him abusing his powers to commit the offences but by the nature of the defence.

His alcohol consumption and level of intoxication is referenced as if it's relevant and apparently, it's entirely plausible, that within minutes of meeting him a woman has consented to engaging in sex in a public place.

All of this despite the fact that the victims claims of having googled police powers have presumably been verified.

I understand that he needs to offer some sort of defence once it's confirmed that sex took place but our rape conviction rates are so low and yet these are the type of pathetic excuses violent sexual predators go to court with fully anticipating them to be treated credibly. It speaks volumes about male entitlement; they expect other people to believe the unbelievable.

Original poster

SereneSemolina · 01/12/2022 12:09

namitynamechange · 01/12/2022 11:23

Is it even appropriate to have front line volunteers in a professional role in this way
In general I think yes. For all sorts of reasons, not least of which that the police force isn't some distinct elite force of "professionals". In theory (not practice alas) but the police are members off the public with the honour of a full time job upholding the law and being paid for it. Special constables are members of the public who volunteer to do this in their spare time as a way of giving back to the community. It can actually serve to broaden the types of people serving, and enforce the fact that the police should serve/be part of their community. However the vetting needs to be as stringent as for the regular police (and that needs to be more stringent).

Lots of food for thought there, and I do see that the increase in diversity may be a plus point.

But, if this isn't your actual job, and you won't lose your livlihood/income for performing it poorly or outside of guidelines etc (obviously carrying out criminal acts is a separate issue) then isn't there a risk that there's less to lose in a way. I know nothing about it, maybe they have performance reviews, career progression etc and have to be held accountable or supervised etc but the voluntary nature of the position should mean you have less kit/powers/uniform in my view.

OP posts:

Original poster

SereneSemolina · 01/12/2022 12:11

FOJN · 01/12/2022 11:48

I'm troubled not only by him abusing his powers to commit the offences but by the nature of the defence.

His alcohol consumption and level of intoxication is referenced as if it's relevant and apparently, it's entirely plausible, that within minutes of meeting him a woman has consented to engaging in sex in a public place.

All of this despite the fact that the victims claims of having googled police powers have presumably been verified.

I understand that he needs to offer some sort of defence once it's confirmed that sex took place but our rape conviction rates are so low and yet these are the type of pathetic excuses violent sexual predators go to court with fully anticipating them to be treated credibly. It speaks volumes about male entitlement; they expect other people to believe the unbelievable.

Not only consented to sex, in a public place, but also been happy to give oral sex whilst it made her physically sick...

As you say, even putting that forward as a suggestion is a sign of how low things can go.

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Mammillaria · 01/12/2022 12:20

FOJN · 01/12/2022 11:48

I'm troubled not only by him abusing his powers to commit the offences but by the nature of the defence.

His alcohol consumption and level of intoxication is referenced as if it's relevant and apparently, it's entirely plausible, that within minutes of meeting him a woman has consented to engaging in sex in a public place.

All of this despite the fact that the victims claims of having googled police powers have presumably been verified.

I understand that he needs to offer some sort of defence once it's confirmed that sex took place but our rape conviction rates are so low and yet these are the type of pathetic excuses violent sexual predators go to court with fully anticipating them to be treated credibly. It speaks volumes about male entitlement; they expect other people to believe the unbelievable.

Yes, this.

He said he had engaged the woman in "general chit chat about sex" before she performed oral sex on him.

In a public space, whilst feeling ill, on a man she'd just met.

A situation that would only happen in porn. But some men are so porn soaked that this seems like a plausible defence?!

Original poster

SereneSemolina · 01/12/2022 12:36

Imagine saying it with a straight face, so sure everyone will nod and think, "sounds likely, yes, happens all the time.."

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MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 01/12/2022 12:40

pattihews · 30/11/2022 23:08

I ought to be shocked, but I've learned so much in recent months about how abusers are drawn to positions in the the police force, medicine, social work and so on that I'm all out of surprise.

Predators go where the prey is. Police aren't any different in that respect.

Swashbuckled · 01/12/2022 14:55

This is very well hidden in the BBC news site. Not on the main page, nor under police search not women search.

I wouldn't have seen it had I not read this post, which concerns me too...