Trendpills
Recent months have seen a string of disciplinary actions across UK police forces, with several officers dismissed or barred from policing for gross misconduct involving harassment, misogyny, and abuse of power. These cases highlight ongoing efforts by police leadership to address cultural issues and rebuild public trust.
In one significant ruling by Dyfed-Powys Police, Superintendent Gary Davies, nicknamed "the octopus" by colleagues, was dismissed for a pattern of inappropriate behavior between 2017 and 2021. A misconduct panel found he had touched female staff without consent and compared women to sports cars. The panel deemed his actions "unlawful discrimination" and a form of "deliberate sexualised conduct," leading to his immediate dismissal and a ban from any policing role.
North Wales Police has also taken action in multiple serious misconduct cases. Former PC John Kelham was disbarred after a hearing found he pursued a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman whose assault complaint he was investigating. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) determined his behavior was a severe abuse of authority for sexual purposes. In a separate incident within the same force, two other officers resigned after a misogynistic conversation was accidentally captured on bodycam. Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman called their comments "cruel, shocking and offensive" and confirmed they would have been sacked.
This pattern extends beyond Wales. In Essex, PC Fraser Walsham was sacked for persistent improper behavior toward five female colleagues, including inappropriate touching and sending offensive messages. Similarly, Merseyside Police found two officers guilty of gross misconduct for a "highly offensive" WhatsApp chat where they shared photos of female officers and made graphic sexual remarks. The victims reported feeling "violated and preyed upon" by the conduct. In each case, senior officials have condemned the actions, apologized to victims, and reiterated their commitment to rooting out such behavior from the service.
