Misogyny and Sexual Misconduct

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Social Justice – in the Senedd at 2:10 pm on 1 March 2023.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 2:10, 1 March 2023

The actions of serial rapist David Carrick, the murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens and the abhorrent treatment of the bodies of sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman by police constables Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis shocked us all, and it left those police departments' reputation in tatters. Of course, as my colleague has mentioned, North Wales Police now has 27 conduct investigations ongoing relating to 24 individuals, and 13 of these cases relate to violence against women and girls, including sexual misconduct and police-perpetrated domestic abuse. My colleague Joyce Watson has done so much within this Chamber about domestic abuse. At this time, 21 cases are assessed as gross misconduct and six are assessed as misconduct. Dismissal is only available as a sanction if a gross misconduct panel makes a finding for gross misconduct. Personally, I do not believe that any officer who displays unacceptable conduct, misconduct or inappropriate behaviour should be allowed to serve again; the confidence will have gone. Therefore, will you, as part of your round-table discussions, undertake discussions with the UK Government to see if misconduct could be grounds for dismissal?