Home / Crime and Justice / Watchdog Slams GMP's Handling of Cyber-Flashing Claims
Watchdog Slams GMP's Handling of Cyber-Flashing Claims
16 Jan
Summary
- Complaints about a custody officer's alleged misconduct were not adequately addressed.
- A victim faced a two-and-a-half-year wait for her complaint to be acted upon.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found GMP's complaint handling unacceptable.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) failed to handle complaints regarding a custody officer's alleged cyber-flashing and sexual touching in an "acceptable" manner. Initially, the complainant received no response from GMP following an incident in Bolton in May 2024. Action was only initiated after she escalated her concerns to Cheshire Police, leading to the GMP custody officer's arrest and suspension.
The affected woman described her experience as "like living in purgatory for two-and-a-half years," emphasizing that "words of advice do not remove my PTSD." The IOPC is simultaneously conducting the criminal investigation into the officer, having forwarded a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service. A separate conduct investigation by the IOPC into potential breaches of regulations is also underway.
The IOPC's review highlighted that GMP staff failed to record and act upon the allegations as stipulated by guidance. Only after the complainant approached Cheshire Constabulary, which also initially failed to record the allegations, did GMP eventually respond appropriately. GMP has since apologized for the service provided, acknowledging the complaint was not processed according to national procedures.
