Officers ignored rape claim, misconduct panel finds

Six former Nottinghamshire Police officers have been found guilty of misconduct for failing to investigate an allegation of rape.

They attended a flat in Nottingham in January 2025, following reports a woman would not leave the address and had assaulted someone inside the property.

She told the officers she had been raped, but they did not record or investigate the allegation, a disciplinary hearing was told, and she was arrested for breaching the peace.

The panel dismissed serving PCs Daniel Mitchell and Jake Self with notice. Former PCs George Ginger and Lucie Willett and two former police constables – who have both resigned and have been granted anonymity - would also have been dismissed.

When police arrived at the scene, they found a woman in bed with a man, with two other men situated in the flat, all of whom were intoxicated, the panel heard.

The woman was then arrested for breaching the peace, when she failed to comply with their instructions.

It was only when she was contacted days later by an officer who was not part of the misconduct proceedings, she once again stated that she was a victim of rape.

She was then offered all the necessary support, and an investigation was opened into the incident, the panel was told.

The hearing panel found all six officers had breached standards of professional behaviour, including honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities, and discreditable conduct.

The misconduct hearing heard how the officers felt remorseful for the way they handled the incident.

PC Mitchell, PC Self, along with PC Ginger and one of the unnamed PCs, had claimed not to have heard the woman's claims, but the panel found this was not credible.

The panel said the actions of the six officers "eroded public confidence in the police".

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Hooks, who chaired the hearing, said: "The six officers in this case should have shown the victim dignity, compassion and respect. They all failed in their duties that night.

"There is absolutely no excuse for why these officers acted the way they did, and they have now all been dealt with accordingly."

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