Labour’s candidate for the Police and Crime Commissioner of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has responded to Newsquest’s investigation into officers accused of sexual misconduct.
In March, a special report revealed dozens of officers have been accused of crimes including sexual assault and domestic abuse.
In response to Newsquest’s findings, Anna Smith said: “It’s essential that the public has complete confidence in the police.
“It is really distressing to learn that there are officers in the Cambridgeshire Constabulary who have been investigated for misconduct. My thoughts are with anyone who has been a victim of abuse.”
Twenty officers were investigated for sexual misconduct, including one allegation of sexual assault and another involving indecent images.
Twenty-four officers were investigated for domestic abuse offences.
She added: “I welcome the Chief Constable’s determination to be relentless in dealing with anyone who breaches the high expectations we rightly have of our police.
“If voters do me the honour of electing me as the next Police & Crime Commissioner, I will have zero tolerance for any part of the police service that falls below the highest standards."
Of the total investigations recorded, nine officers were subject to disciplinary proceedings while three were subject to management action.
Twenty-eight allegations resulted in no further action against the officer involved.
In 2022, The Home Office instructed all police forces in the UK to carry out background checks on all their staff against a national database.
The ‘historic data wash’ gives forces across the country the chance to identify any missed opportunities by re-vetting employees against the Police National Database.
Smith said: “I know from my own safeguarding training that, tragically, there will be cases that may not be caught by vetting alone. This is not to excuse that behaviour. It is simply unacceptable."
I will sit down with the Chief Constable in my first week. We will talk about structures and cultures. I will use my experience in safeguarding to be a fresh pair of eyes and to identify what I can do to support that work.
"The key is to strengthen vetting procedures. That the Home Office only asked Police Forces to carry out background checks on their staff in 2022 is a mark of slipping standards.
“I want to see a fresh start for policing and to see a year-on-year improvement in public confidence in our constabulary.”
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