Isle of Wight Police Officer Arrested Amid Criminal Investigation
An Isle of Wight police officer has been arrested and suspended as part of a serious criminal probe into their conduct.
Warrant Card Surrendered After Allegations
The officer was ordered to hand over their warrant card by the end of 2022 following grave accusations. Four months on, the allegations have sparked a full criminal investigation leading to their arrest.
Second Officer Suspended Without Criminal Charges
Just weeks later, another officer was suspended after a separate misconduct inquiry. While not under criminal investigation, this officer remains off duty amid ongoing probes.
Nationwide Police Crackdown on Misconduct
The move comes as police forces across the UK ramp up scrutiny of officers in the wake of the 1 case. The Metropolitan Police has launched an urgent review into sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations against its staff.
Recently, former Hampshire officer and ex-Police Federation Chair John Apter was cleared of criminal sexual assault charges but will face a misconduct hearing despite retiring last year.
Authorities and IOPC Response
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have yet to issue a statement on the suspensions and arrest. Meanwhile, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it was notified but has passed the cases back to the local force for ongoing investigation.
“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 case was referred back to their Professional Standards Department on December 8,” an IOPC spokesperson said.
The IOPC also acknowledged a second mandatory conduct referral related to separate allegations, which was returned to Hampshire just six days after receipt.
Under the rules, a mandatory conduct referral is required when allegations involve serious assault, sexual offences, corruption, or other serious crimes aggravated by discriminatory behaviour based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics.
