Isle of Wight Cop Arrested and Suspended in Criminal Probe
A police officer on the Isle of Wight has been arrested and suspended as part of a criminal investigation into serious allegations. The officer was ordered to hand over their warrant card by the end of 2022 amid the claims.
Four months on, the probe has led to the officer’s arrest. Meanwhile, another officer from the same force was suspended weeks later in a separate misconduct case. That second officer isn’t facing criminal charges but remains off duty.
Police Forces Under Fire After Sarah Everard Case
Across the country, police forces are re-examining officers’ conduct in wake of the Sarah Everard murder scandal. The Metropolitan Police launched a fast-track review into all current sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations involving their officers and staff.
Last week, it emerged that ex-Hampshire officer John Apter, former Police Federation Chair, will avoid criminal charges over sexual assault claims. However, he will face a misconduct hearing, despite his retirement last year.
IOPC Involved but Defers to Local Force
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has so far stayed tight-lipped about the suspensions and arrests. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed awareness but passed the investigation back to the local force.
“On November 4, 2022, we received a mandatory conduct referral from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. After assessment, it was deemed appropriate for the force to continue investigating the matter and was referred back to their Professional Standards Department on December 8,” an IOPC spokesperson said.
The IOPC also revealed a second mandatory conduct referral concerning separate misconduct allegations was made in December and quickly returned to the constabulary.
Serious Misconduct Triggers Mandatory Reports
Mandatory conduct referrals are required for serious cases involving assault, sexual offences, corruption, or crimes aggravated by discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics. These high-stakes allegations ensure oversight but place the spotlight firmly on police forces.
