Assembly Committee hears ‘truly horrifying’ evidence of alleged predatory behaviour by PSNI officers

Police Ombudsman office in Belfast

Wednesday 11 November 2026

Allegations of police officers exploiting vulnerable women for sexual purposes now account for around one third of the Police Ombudsman’s most serious investigations in Northern Ireland, an Assembly committee has been told.

The disturbing scale of the problem emerged as MLAs examined findings of an investigation into officers allegedly abusing their positions of authority to pursue sexual or inappropriate emotional relationships with members of the public.

The Committee for the Executive Office heard that 49 further cases have been identified since the beginning of 2025, following an earlier review of 42 cases involving alleged misconduct between 2018 and 2024.

The revelations have prompted renewed calls for urgent action to address failures in police supervision, accountability and organisational culture, amid serious concerns about the safety of vulnerable women and public confidence in policing.

Vulnerable women targeted by officers

The committee heard evidence from senior officials at the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) and senior Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers about the findings of a report published in February.

The report, Abuse of Position for Sexual Purposes by PSNI Officers, examined allegations involving officers who allegedly exploited their professional authority, access to information or relationships with members of the public for sexual purposes.

Committee Chairperson Paula Bradshaw MLA described the findings as deeply disturbing.

“What is contained in the report is truly horrifying and shocking. We learned that APSP now accounts for a significant number of the Ombudsman’s most serious cases. More than that, it is one of the most serious forms of police corruption and a real threat to public confidence in policing.”

She said the findings presented to the committee showed a troubling pattern involving male officers and female victims, many of whom were particularly vulnerable.

“The findings show that all the victims were women and all the perpetrators men - typically frontline officers in their 30s, some of whom were married and had children.”

Police powers and public trust abused

Abuse of Position for Sexual Purposes (APSP) refers to behaviour in which a police officer exploits their position, authority or powers to pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with someone they encounter through their duties.

Such misconduct is particularly serious because police officers are entrusted with protecting people who may be experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, exploitation or other circumstances that leave them vulnerable.

Ms Bradshaw said the committee had heard evidence of officers misusing police powers and systems, with some women subjected to predatory behaviour.

“What has taken place is a flagrant misuse of police powers and systems. We were told that many victims had significant vulnerabilities and there was predatory behaviour by some officers.”

She warned that the allegations had profound implications for Northern Ireland’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which depends on victims feeling safe enough to report abuse and seek protection.

“It is clear that APSP and the actions of the officers involved have major implications on efforts to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG). It shows that some abuse is being carried out by those meant to protect victims which undermines prevention, reporting and trust.”

Concerns over supervision and accountability

Beyond the conduct of individual officers, the committee raised serious questions about whether weaknesses within policing had allowed inappropriate behaviour to continue without sufficient scrutiny.

Ms Bradshaw said the findings exposed how vulnerable women had been deliberately targeted and exploited.

She added:

“What we’ve also seen are that there are systemic failings in supervision, accountability and organisational culture that allow such behaviour to go undetected or unchallenged.”

The committee agreed that urgent action was needed to strengthen oversight, improve supervision and address cultural problems within policing.

Members also called for measures to encourage victims to come forward, alongside assurances that allegations would be thoroughly investigated.

The figures discussed relate to cases identified or investigated by the Ombudsman's Office and should not be interpreted as a finding that every allegation has been substantiated. The information provided to the committee does not establish how many cases have resulted in criminal convictions or disciplinary sanctions.

Pressure for action to rebuild confidence

The committee praised the Police Ombudsman's Office for its work in exposing alleged abuses and emphasised the responsibility of the PSNI and other public bodies to protect women and girls.

The findings raise questions not only about the conduct of officers accused of exploiting their authority, but also about the systems intended to detect wrongdoing and prevent further harm.

For women who have experienced abuse, confidence that police officers can be trusted with sensitive information and personal safety is fundamental to seeking help.

The committee's call for stronger oversight now places renewed attention on how the PSNI identifies misconduct, protects vulnerable people and holds officers accountable.

Ultimately, the issue extends beyond individual investigations. Restoring confidence will depend on whether the concerns identified lead to effective safeguards, meaningful accountability and demonstrable protection for the women who turn to police for help.