'I reported my officer ex for abuse and was arrested'

Eva thought the police had come to help her - but she got arrested instead

A woman who called 999 to report her police officer ex-partner for domestic abuse ended up being arrested herself and spent 18 hours in a cell.

Eva, not her real name, believes the West Mercia officer set up her arrest to stop her reporting him for both psychological and financial abuse.

Around the time she reported him a female officer he had been in a relationship with made similar allegations against him, the BBC has learned.

West Mercia Police said her arrest was being reviewed but the conduct of the officer in both cases has not been investigated and no criminal offence has been committed.

However, the BBC has also spoken to two other women who had been in a relationship with the officer and both said they had similar experiences of abuse.

In 2022, 15 West Mercia officers faced disciplinary hearings – five for sexual misconduct. Of the 15, three were sacked and four resigned before they were dismissed.

'Saw me as a slave'

For Eva, things started well with the officer when they met in January 2022 and started a relationship.

Within three months they decided to buy a house together. But almost immediately she said his behaviour changed.

"He saw me as someone that could pay for his lifestyle," she said.

"He didn’t see me as a human being, he saw me as a slave."

The following October, Eva ended their relationship but they both had to remain living in the house while it was being sold.

A month later, she reported him to the police for harassing her and abusing her, both verbally and financially.

While the situation she was in was “deeply unpleasant”, the West Mercia force maintained no criminal offence had been committed by the officer.

At the same time, the female officer had reported him for abuse and coercive control.

However, the force said his service was deemed acceptable and no disciplinary hearing was required.

'I didn't know what I'd done'

Eva said that in December 2022, she rang 999 after becoming scared, but on the arrival of officers she was arrested on suspicion of assault.

She is convinced her ex-partner used his role as an officer to get her arrested and out of their house.

"I was crying. I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve being there. I didn’t know what he said to them," said Eva.

"All I knew was that he was a monster to do such a thing to me because I didn’t do anything."

She was later bailed but was told she could not return to their home for four weeks.

The investigation was later dropped when the officer withdrew an allegation he had made against her.

Since the incident, the officer has been promoted

One of the other women the BBC has spoken to about the officer said he should not be in the police.

“They undergo training and they’re aware of what’s expected of them. He shouldn’t be wearing the badge," she said.

And another of the officer's former partners has told us that she’s still scared of him.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he understood some victims of domestic abuse do not feel comfortable reporting their experiences to the police.

Superintendent Mo Lansdale, head of West Mercia Police Professional Standards, said: “We take reports of police perpetrated domestic abuse incredibly seriously and fully investigate all incidents without fear or favour.”

Eva is not reassured. Her ex has since been promoted within the force.

"He uses his power. I don’t think the police helped me," she said.

"When I phoned asking for help no-one came to help me. They came and arrested me."