PCs 'drove abuser to the home of his victim'

The officers were made aware of past allegations of violence by the man

Two Derbyshire Police constables have been given final written warnings after taking a violent offender to his partner, who he then assaulted.

A tribunal heard PC James Barker and PC Jack Large attended reports of a man, known as JJ, punching his father at an undisclosed location on 1 April 2023.

Despite being aware JJ had a volatile relationship with his girlfriend and that she had recently alleged an assault by him, the officers left JJ at her house.

The panel said the officers made a "serious error" when they "drove an abuser to the home of his victim", but noted their inexperience and described the failure as a "case of mistake, not of malice".

PCs Barker and Large both started working with Derbyshire Police in 2021, in February and September respectively.

The tribunal heard they were called to the domestic incident between JJ and his father and while gathering information, PC Barker was told by JJ that he and his girlfriend had "problems".

In speaking to JJ's father, both officers were led to understand the relationship between JJ and his partner was "volatile".

PC Barker also found records indicating Nottinghamshire Police wanted to interview him in relation to an alleged assault on his girlfriend in March.

He was arrested and taken to Ripley police station, where they were advised by the charge manager to inform Nottinghamshire Police of the arrest and not to take JJ to his partner's house.

'Dreadful position'

PC Large had already spoken to the partner and was told about his violent nature but despite this, no alternative arrangements were made.

The tribunal heard when JJ was released from custody he was taken to his partner's house, but hours later she reported she had been assaulted by him.

It found there were breaches by both officers of the standards of duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct amounting to gross misconduct.

The panel said: "These are inexperienced officers who simply failed to look beyond the immediate task in front of them.

"They failed to examine the wider risk to [the partner].

"That is a serious error that culminated in a dreadful position where police officers drove an abuser to the home of his victim.

"This is a case of mistake, not of malice and or idleness."

Both officers were given a final written warning lasting two years.