The Guardian’s investigation has uncovered evidence of:
• Vetting failures, including a concern that vetting procedures may have been relaxed post-2001 during a surge in police recruitment.
• Concerns over the recording and monitoring of disciplinary offences as officers progress through their career.
• A tendency for women who complain they have been sexually attacked by a policeman not to be believed.
• A pervasive culture of sexism within the police service, which some claim allows abusive behaviour to go unchecked.
Debaleena Dasgupta, a lawyer who has represented women sexually assaulted and raped by police officers, said: “I don’t think any [victims] are quite as damaged as those who are victims of police officers.
“The damage is far deeper because they trusted the police and … believed that the police were supposed to protect them from harm and help catch and punish those who perpetrate it.
“The breach of that trust has an enormous effect: they feel that if they can’t trust a police officer, who can they trust? They lose their confidence in everyone, even those in authority. It is one of the worst crimes that can be committed and when committed by an officer, becomes one of the greatest abuses of power.”
For more, go here. (Thanks, Mr Jender.)
Feminist Philosophers 