A senior Greater Manchester Police commander has sparked fury after sending unsolicited explicit photos to a female officer — and begging to meet her outside work hours. The scandal forced Rob Cousen, head of GMP’s Tameside division, into early retirement just hours before a disciplinary panel was set to sack him.
Commander’s Creepy Texts Exposed
Between February and May 2022, Cousen repeatedly sent the female PC explicit images of himself without her consent. He had secretly obtained her personal number to make contact. The brave victim reported the harassment, triggering an internal probe.
The disciplinary panel found Cousen sent inappropriate photos on multiple occasions. Despite overwhelming evidence, he denied all allegations for nearly two years — dragging out the case before finally admitting misconduct moments before his hearing ended.
£100k-A-Year Cop’s Career in Ruins
Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods blasted Cousen’s actions as “totally out of order.” He said:
“This behaviour is far from the standard expected of any GMP officer, especially one in a senior leadership role. Leadership demands the highest quality, standards and behaviour — and this failed completely. I want to pay tribute to the female officer for her courage in coming forward.”
Ex-Chief Constable Debbie Tedds ruled Cousen’s conduct as gross misconduct. The panel added his name to the College of Policing Barred List, banning him from policing for life. Cousen quit a mere 10 hours before his dismissal was confirmed.
Police Watchdog Slams Abuse of Power
Amanda Rowe, director at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), condemned Cousen’s “abuse of position,” warning his actions risked public trust in the police. She added:
“His senior rank made this behaviour even more serious and unacceptable. It is frustrating he denied responsibility for two years, delaying justice, only to admit at the last moment.”
Cousen’s shocking misconduct is a brutal reminder: no matter the rank, cops must be held to account.
