Force's officers disciplined for sexual misconduct

The force said it would take "decisive action" when sexual misconduct allegations were made

A total of 61 police officers have been disciplined for sexual misconduct while working for Thames Valley Police (TVP) over recent years, a report shows.

In the third report of its kind released by the force over the last year, it said 10 others who were disciplined worked as support staff between February 2020 and end of 2024.

The force received 17 allegations of sexual assault and 10 of rape against its officers and other staff last year.

Of cases resolved in 2024, TVP said one person was sacked, three people got final written warnings and five were told to complete reflective practice.

TVP said complaints of sexual misconduct "increased significantly" from 2023 and that many were still being investigated.

"This shows that confidence is starting to increase in the reporting of these allegations," the report said.

"It also shows that [TVP] will take decisive action when sexual misconduct allegations are made."

In January, a former TVP officer was jailed for 17 months after he had a sexual relationship with a woman he was investigating.

Matthew Lynch, who was based in Slough, Berkshire, was told by a judge that his conduct between March and October 2021 was "obviously and criminally wrong".

The force said its reports into sexual misconduct were "designed to be transparent with the reporting and findings of allegations of sexual misconduct to improve confidence in reporting these matters".

The force's workforce has increased considerably over the last five years.

At the start of this month it had 5,869 officers but in February 2020 it had 4,527 - an increase of 30%.

Similarly, at the start of this year, it had 4,187 support staff but in 2020 had 3,348 - an increase of 25%.