Responding to a report which found hundreds of police officers have been accused of abusing their position to sexually exploit people, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary and former senior police chief Brian Paddick said:
It is totally unacceptable that anyone in a position of power should abuse their position.
When those people are police officers exploiting people when they are at their most vulnerable, particularly women who are the victims of domestic violence and sexual offences, it is despicable.
For Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to describe sexual exploitation as the most serious form of police corruption in England and Wales is breathtaking.Time and again we have seen peaks in corruption following mass recruitment of police officers.
The police must be far more rigorous in their recruitment and selection procedures and make absolutely clear that any relationship with victims they encounter during the course of their duty is totally unacceptable.
It works for medical professionals and it should apply to police professionals.
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One Comment
Astounding ! Words defy me ! I think Brian Paddick says it and thank goodness !
As someone a little tougher on crime, if the crime is violence and victimisation ,of any sort, than Attilla the Hun, I am appalled that the very people who should be dealing with it are doing it !