Force apology over handling of sex offence inquiry

West Yorkshire Police says its handling of the woman's case was "unacceptable"

Police have apologised to a woman over the way they handled her claims of sexual offences against an officer.

The woman, who cannot be named, made allegations including rape and coercive and controlling behaviour against a West Yorkshire Police officer in 2023.

The officer was never charged with any offence, but the woman later complained he had been "tipped off" about the complaint within hours of it being made, which she said affected the decision not to arrest him and seize his phone.

The force's standards directorate said while protocols were followed, its service level was "unacceptable". The woman told the BBC she was "disappointed" by the outcome.

However, she added that it had "not come as a surprise".

An email to the woman from the standards directorate said "learning" from the incident had been identified and fed back to the line manager who informed the suspect of the claims against him.

'Still no answers'

Alongside claims of rape and controlling and coercive behaviour, the woman also made claims of drink spiking against the officer, as well as harassment and deliberately passing on a sexual infection.

The directorate's report on the handling of the matter told how the suspect was informed by phone while he was off duty and drinking at a "social event".

It said the officer being alerted to the allegations would not have "directly affected any decisions in the investigative process".

Meanwhile, "protocols were followed" in line with normal practice when allegations against serving police officers are made, the report stated.

However, it added that while it was "understandable" the officer's line manager would want to speak to him, it "may" have been conducted differently.

The report said that "an understanding" of where the officer "was at the time and his demeanour" could have resulted in "more limited information" being given over the phone in advance of a more formal meeting at a later time.

It finished by apologising to the woman on behalf of West Yorkshire Police for "any confusion, inconvenience or distress this incident has caused".

The woman told the BBC: "Receiving this email was disappointing but has not come as a surprise, given the level of service I have received to date from the police.

"I still have no answers as to why this officer was not arrested, none of his electronics were looked at, or as to why a misconduct hearing at the very least has not happened."

A separate complaint by the woman that she was asked "inappropriate questions" during the course of the investigation was rejected by the force.

West Yorkshire Police has been contacted for comment.

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