‘Sickening’ remarks made by police officers over assault victim suffering a seizure

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Police officers made “sickening” feedback about a victim of an assault whereas watching a body-worn video of her in a seizure along with her groin and chest uncovered, an investigation has discovered.

Three Thames Valley Police officers watched and ridiculed footage of a 21-year-old girl suffering from a seizure whereas held in leg restraints in a police van, the BBC probe revealed.

Despite an investigation by the drive’s skilled requirements division, there is no such thing as a public proof of the officers going through misconduct hearings whereas the coed officer who raised has been “shunned” by colleagues.

The revelations come after a BBC report final 12 months of police officers in England and Wales misusing body-worn video by switching off cameras, deleting footage and sharing movies on WhatsApp.

The newest incident occurred when the victim was arrested, handcuffed and positioned in a police van in Newbury, Berkshire after officers believed she had dedicated an assault, regardless of having been assaulted herself.

She was then recorded on body-worn video vomiting and dropping consciousness. She suffered a seizure within the police van which resulted in her groin and chest being uncovered.

Hours later, a feminine officer reviewing CCTV watched the officers’ body-worn video of the victim’s journey contained in the police van whereas at her desk at Newbury Police Station.

She was then joined by three male colleagues who all watched the footage whereas making “sickening” feedback concerning the victim’s physique, in line with the coed officer.

One officer requested to see the lady’s groin space whereas one other made derogatory feedback about her breasts. Others mentioned what they’d should be paid to sleep along with her.

In a witness assertion seen by the BBC, the coed officer reported that the opposite officers referred to the lady by identify whereas making feedback, and had been clearly conscious of her id.

“It makes me feel betrayed,” the victim advised the BBC. “The police are supposed to be the people you go to when you need help.”

After reporting the officers’ conduct, the coed officer was “shunned” by colleagues and anticipated to go away. He claimed a sergeant confirmed him job adverts exterior policing.

In August, he was advised he was not bodily or mentally “fitted” to be a police constable and was dismissed.

Thames Valley Police advised the BBC the remarks caught within the recording had been “unacceptable”. The drive stated it was grateful the coed officer reported what he noticed, and his disclosure had been handled critically however the ending of his employment was an “entirely separate” matter.

In a assertion, it stated that the coed officer was moved to a completely different station, given a new tutor and supported by way of his criticism.

It additionally stated officers concerned confronted misconduct conferences – which aren’t held in public. But when the BBC requested anonymised particulars of any disciplinary outcomes below Freedom of Information regulation, the drive declined to share them, saying disclosure risked figuring out people.

The case is “a horror story of misogyny and sexism” that’s “massively” damaging to public confidence, says Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.

He stated the BBC’s investigations had uncovered “systemic failings” within the scrutiny of police body-worn video – and the Newbury case is “very troubling”.

A earlier BBC investigation in 2023 decided extra than1 50 studies of misuse of body-worn cameras.

The broadcaster discovered a number of severe allegations, which included studies in seven police forces the place officers shared digital camera footage with buddies or colleagues, both in individual or on-line by way of social media.