A North Yorkshire Police officer has been sacked for gross misconduct after subjecting three women to abuse and controlling and coercive behaviour.
The officer, who was referred to as “constable Z” at the hearing, appeared before a police disciplinary panel held in Northallerton on August 30 and 31.
The hearing was held in private after chairman Gerald Sydenham found that the public interest in holding the panel in open session was “outweighed to a considerable degree by the need to protect the health of those involved”.
Police misconduct panels are normally held in public with officers named.
The hearing included Constable Z, who was diagnosed with “mixed depressive and anxiety disorder”, as well as other “vulnerable persons”.
Abuse and coercive behaviour
It was alleged that the officer subjected the women, who were not named, to numerous instances of abuse over three separate time periods.
The first victim, who was referred to as “female person A”, was verbally abused, monitored by constable Z as to how she spent her time and subjected to physical abuse such as having a knife placed to her throat and strangled.
The hearing report said it was also alleged that constable Z threatened that her son, aged 8, “would end up in a ‘body bag’ or words to that effect”.
Those offences took place between 1998 and 2001.
Meanwhile, female person B, who was abused between December 2005 and March 2016, was subjected to seven allegations of abuse and controlling or coercive behaviour.
The report said that constable Z “attempted to belittle her and/or reduce her confidence by telling her that she was fat, lazy, ugly and other such insults”.
It was also alleged that he isolated her from her friends and family, controlled and monitored how she spent her time and turned up at her workplace unannounced “in furtherance of your attempts to control and/or coerce”.
Person C was also subjected to five allegations of abuse between July 2016 and February 2017.
These included physical abuse, monitoring how she spent her time and accusing her of cheating or being interested in other men.
She was also subjected to verbal abuse, which included “accusing her of having a mental health problem and/or being an alcoholic, making reference to her weight and telling her she was unable to “keep her legs shut” or words to that effect”.
The hearing, which was chaired by Mr Sydenham, Amanda Harvey and Superintendent Fran Naughton, found the allegations amounted to gross misconduct.
Constable Z was dismissed without notice.
Read more:
- Harrogate police officer sacked after ‘misleading’ the force
- Police sack Harrogate officer convicted of sexual assault
The hearing gave “significant reasonable adjustments” for the officer to attend the misconduct panel after it was found he suffered from “mixed depressive and anxiety disorder such as being sufficient to constitute a disability as defined by law”.
However, in its reasons, the panel found that constable Z was “highly culpable and blameworthy for his own repeated gross misconduct even after allowing for a significant recognition of his disability and health issue”.
The report added that his behaviour amount to significant harm to the reputation of the force.
It said:
“The harm caused was very significant both to the reputation of officer Z and the reputation of the police service.
“Officer Z fundamentally harmed his own reputation and the trust placed in him by North Yorkshire Police.
“The effect of his gross misconduct upon the three female victims of his behaviour, the police service, his colleagues, public confidence in and the trust placed in the police service was extremely damaging and it is likely to continue to be corrosive in undermining public confidence in policing for a considerable time.”
Following the hearing, deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain said:
Harrogate woman’s first novel focuses on coercive control“There is absolutely no place for this behaviour in the police service.
“We demand the highest level of integrity from our officers and staff to ensure that the people we serve can have complete trust in us.
“The misconduct outcome sends a clear message and reassurance to the public that we will not tolerate such appalling behaviour from anyone within our ranks and will ensure action is taken.”
A Harrogate woman has published her first book, focussing on coercive control.
Emily Trisk wrote the novel, called Fractured Lives, to raise awareness of the issue.
The book focuses on Kate McConell, a mother of a 16-year-old, who realises that her life has been made unbearable by her abusive partner.
While the novel is not the story of Emily’s own experience, she hopes it will help to bring the issue to the forefront of people’s minds.
She said:
“Coercive control is an extremely important subject, the signs of which everyone should become more aware of.”
Read more:
- Harrogate’s ex-Cold Bath Deli owner publishes first novel
- Sell out performances mark reopening of Pateley Playhouse
Emily, a qualified teacher of children with severe learning disabilities, was the victim of domestic abuse herself.
However, despite the trauma, she said she “has always tried to look on the bright side of life”.
The novel is Emily’s first and she is currently researching material for her second book.
Fractured Lives is available on Amazon now. You can find out more information here.
How Harrogate Family Law can help if you are a victim of coercive control
This article is sponsored by Harrogate Family Law.
Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse in which a person attempts to exert an unreasonable, oppressive amount of control over their partner’s life.
Harrogate Family Law are specialists in this area and they are helping a growing number to resolve the difficult situation.
Abuse does not have to be physical or sexual to be an offence. Coercive control can include emotional and psychological abuse and can be very subtle, so is harder to identify.
By its very nature, coercive control can instil confusion and self-doubt in the victim, but Harrogate Family Law can help you be clear about what is taking place and prepare a safe route out of the situation for you and your family.
Andrew Meehan, director of Harrogate Family Law, said:
“We are getting clients from all over the country who are married to a controlling, narcissistic spouse. They have often been controlled financially and emotionally and have been kept in the dark about money. They often don’t have a clear picture of how much things cost and how they can afford to pay for things.
“We can offer advice and help them to move forward with a secure financial future.”
What are the signs of coercive control?
There are clear indications that the relationship you are in has spiralled towards coercive control, even if you have received no physical harm and the relationship is not necessarily “toxic”.
Coercive control happens when:
- You are isolated from your support system, i.e. family and friends
- Your activity is being monitored all day everyday – known as invasive surveillance
- Your freedom and autonomy is being denied – such as access to money or health and body freedom
- You are subjected to name-calling, shaming or criticism
- Your children are being turned against you, known as parental alienation
- You are subjected to jealous accusations
Mr Meehan has offered his three top tips on what to do if you think you are a victim of coercive control.
You are not alone
“There are a lot of people in the same situation. They are often conditioned to think there is no way out for them and they are effectively trapped.
“But their situation is something we see a lot of and something we can sort out for them. The situation is not hopeless.”
Get legal advice early
“We have a niche in dealing with people who have been controlled by spouses or those who are married to a narcissist. We have got clients from all over the country and overseas looking for our expertise.
“Speak to a solicitor who understands how to deal with these kinds of people.”
Everyone’s situation is different
“Try to come to your first meeting as prepared as possible so that the advice we give can be as tailored to your circumstances as much as possible.
“This is difficult if your finances are being controlled. However, have a think about what you do know and we can take things from there. We can then be prepared to deal with what is most important to you.”