A police officer from Avon and Somerset Police is set to appear in court tomorrow, facing multiple charges including rape, sexual assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour.
PC Stephen Phipps, 43, based in Bridgwater, will appear before Taunton Magistrates’ Court following allegations made by his victim while he was off duty. He was arrested and subsequently suspended from duty in February 2023 after the victim reported the offences to the force.
According to a statement from the force, Phipps was not on duty at the time of the alleged incidents. Since the complaint was made, a full investigation has been carried out by detectives, with oversight from the Operation Bluestone team, which specialises in cases of rape and serious sexual offences.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Marsh, the senior investigating officer, said: “We would like to reassure the public that, since the allegations came to light, detectives from our investigation team have conducted a thorough investigation, culminating in a case file being presented to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
DCI Marsh added that, due to the serious nature of the charges, the case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which ruled the circumstances were suitable for local investigation by Avon and Somerset Police.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, Avon and Somerset’s Professional Standards Department is conducting a parallel investigation into possible breaches of professional conduct standards.
DCI Marsh stressed the importance of ensuring that the legal process is followed, urging the public not to publish or comment on any material that could prejudice the upcoming court proceedings.
PC Phipps is due to appear in court tomorrow to face the charges.
