A North Yorkshire Police officer failed to act on a reported rape, a misconduct hearing has found.
The hearing at the force's Northallerton headquarters ruled that PC Adam Bray’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
But it said the officer’s behaviour “was not deliberate or planned” and he had “not set out to intentionally do a bad job”.
“In our view, the facts and circumstances in this particular case, are such that it is not necessary and would be disproportionate to dismiss PC Bray for a single isolated incident by an inexperienced officer set against, an otherwise good record,” the panel said.
PC Bray was given a final written warning, meaning the officer would likely be dismissed if he were found to breach police standards in the future.
The hearing was told that PC Bray “accepts he made mistakes” and that he “did not target” the woman “as an individual”.
It heard that PC Bray was faced with “very challenging circumstances” on the night in August 2022.
A woman reported that she had been raped and assaulted during the incident.
But, according to the panel, PC Bray “failed to inform” the force control room or supervisors about the report of the rape.
Instead, it said, “[PC Bray] concluded that it did not happen.”
The panel said PC Bray told the woman, after she had reported a domestic assault and rape, that “s*** happens”.
“You failed to keep an open mind in respect of the reports of a criminal incident made by [the woman],” it said.
The panel added that PC Bray “failed to treat [the woman] with respect when talking to her, often ignoring her comments or speaking over her”.
He informed the woman he “would not be dealing with her report of rape”, the panel said.
PC's behaviour 'reduces public confidence' in police, hearing finds
It ruled that PC Bray’s behaviour “discredits the police service and reduces public confidence in the reputation of the profession”.
“It is alleged that either individually or cumulatively, the above conduct amounts to gross misconduct namely a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour that if proved is so serious that your dismissal would be justified,” the panel found.
But it said PC Bray made “early admissions and acknowledged his mistakes”.
PC Bray’s behaviour was “significantly impacted by the lack of information” provided to him by another officer, the panel said.
It added that PC Bray has “continued to be employed in a public facing role (including investigation of claims of domestic violence)” for more than two years and has “performed to a high standard”.
The panel said the written warning “sends the message that is warranted in this case, namely, that despite all the pressures under which they work for the good of the public, officers must always act in accordance with the SPB [Standards of Professional Behaviour]”.
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