Police Ombudsman releases breakdown of PSNI sexual misconduct investigations after FOI review

Police Ombudsman figures released following internal review show that 26 serving PSNI officers and three former officers are now under investigation over allegations of abuse of position for sexual purposes (APSP).

The updated figures were disclosed after the Police Ombudsman changed an earlier decision to withhold a breakdown of serving and former officers in response to a Freedom of Information request.

The information was released just one day before the Police Ombudsman announced that a serving PSNI officer had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct involving alleged abuse of position for sexual purposes.

In April, the Police Ombudsman published a report analysing allegations of APSP involving PSNI officers over a seven-year period between 2018 and 2024.

The report highlighted the significant vulnerabilities of victims and identified common characteristics among the officers investigated.

Every alleged victim identified during the period was female, and all were considered vulnerable to some degree. Many had multiple vulnerabilities. The most common was having previously been the victim of crime, while others experienced mental health issues, domestic abuse, suicidal ideation or addiction. Some victims were themselves involved in criminal activity, making them particularly vulnerable to exploitation by a police officer.

Commenting on the findings at the time, Police Ombudsman Chief Executive Hugh Hume said predatory police behaviour represents one of the most serious forms of corruption in policing.

“Such is the power imbalance that many women do not report the offending directly for fear of reprisal and others can be so vulnerable that they do not recognise that the officer is abusing them and instead see him as a ‘knight in shining armour’ figure. Others do not see themselves as victims at all.”

When the report was published, the Police Ombudsman said 20 serving officers and two former officers were under investigation, involving a total of 39 women.

However, when Love Ballymena sought the latest figures through a Freedom of Information request in June, the Police Ombudsman confirmed the total number of officers under investigation had increased to 29, but refused to disclose how many were serving officers and how many were former officers.

The Ombudsman relied on a Freedom of Information exemption, stating:

“The number of cases falling within the scope of the request is very small. Disclosure of such low figures could lead to the identification of individuals, either directly or when combined with other information that may be available.”

That decision was challenged on two grounds.

Firstly, the Police Ombudsman had already disclosed in April that two former officers were under investigation, suggesting either the exemption had not previously been considered applicable or that a different approach had been taken.

Secondly, it was argued that, given the large number of former and retired PSNI officers, releasing the number of former officers under investigation was highly unlikely to identify any individual and that the low figure actually favoured disclosure.

Following an internal review, the Police Ombudsman agreed to amend its response.

In its revised decision, it said:

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the omission in the original response.”

The updated figures show that 26 serving officers and three former officers are currently under investigation and/or have been notified they are under investigation for alleged abuse of position for sexual purposes.

Compared with the figures published in April, this represents an increase of seven investigations overall. Six involve serving officers, while the number of former officers under investigation has increased from two to three.

The PSNI has previously confirmed that, of the serving officers under investigation, seven had been suspended from duty and five had been moved to alternative roles. The force has not disclosed the employment status of the remaining officers.

No timescale has been given for the conclusion of the investigations or for any disciplinary or criminal proceedings that may follow.