An Isle of Wight police officer has been arrested and suspended from duty as part of a criminal investigation into their conduct, Island Echo can exclusively reveal.
It’s understood that the local officer – who is not being named by Island Echo at this time – was ordered to temporarily hand in their warrant card towards the end of 2022 after serious allegations against them came to light.
4 months down the line it is now known that those allegations have prompted a criminal investigation, leading to an arrest.
It can also be revealed that just weeks later another officer was suspended from duty amid a separate investigation into their own conduct. They are not currently subject to any criminal investigation but remain suspended.
Police forces across the country are probing more closely the conduct of their officers in the wake of the Sarah Everard murder. The Metropolitan Police, for example, has launched an urgent review of all current investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse against its officers and staff.
Last week it was reported that former Hampshire officer John Apter, who was also the Chair of the Police Federation, will not face criminal charges over allegations of sexual assault – but will face a misconduct hearing, despite retiring from the Police last year.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has not provided a statement to Island Echo in respect of the arrest nor the suspension of its serving officers.
However, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that they have been made aware of the situation, but have referred the matter back to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary as the criminal investigation continues.
A spokesperson for the IOPC has told Island Echo:
“We received a mandatory conduct referral from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary on 4th November 2022. This was assessed and determined that it was appropriate for the force to continue to investigate the matter and was referred back to the Professional Standards Department on 8th December”.
It has been confirmed that the IOPC has also been made aware of the 2nd, separate misconduct allegations. The independent body says that this matter – also a mandatory conduct referral -was referred to them in December and handed back to Hampshire just 6 days later.
A mandatory conduct referral must be made when allegations constitute serious assault, a serious sexual offence, serious corruption, certain types of criminal offence (known as relevant offences) or a criminal offence/behaviour which is liable to lead to misconduct proceedings and which, in either case, is aggravated by discriminatory behaviour on the grounds of a person’s race, sex, religion or other status.
Every one hates a bad bit of bacon
So sad these days that even there’s a crime you have to suspect the officers as well as recent cases have shown us .
So sad for those police working very hard and honestly.
Agreed. Maybe the the selection process for new police officers needs a serious looking at.
Beggars can’t be choosers.
Police forces are grossly understaffed. 20,000 officers have been lost since 2010 and the changes in pay and conditions that have been introduced since then make being a police officer much less attractive as a career than it used to be.
The Tories promised to recruit 20,000 new officers is way behind schedule. They only way they are ever going to make good on that promise is to lower the selection requirements.
Even if they did recruit them, the Island would only get a couple.. because we are HAMPSHIRE.. seems somewhere the Island is listed as a small tourist place, with not many full time people living here. Should have stayed as The Isle of Wight… not joined to Hampshire, then the Island would get more government support.. whoever decided to make it Hampshire and the isle of wight, has really downgraded us. I never saw a vote for that ???
Obviously not working is it!? Never been so bad in this country!
I see the thumbs down for this comment, but it is a reality.
In 2002 when there was a massive recruitment drive, to reach targets they were contacting applicants who had previously been rejected asking if they were still interested!
One can be assured that if ethnic or being of a more unusual gender or perhaps disabled then both the BBC and the Police will be fighting to bring you on board.
PC tick sheets are more important than obtaining the best staff nowadays.
You must see such on most all TV ads and current made series now.
Serious and corruption who would ever believe it ?
Obviously he’ll still retain his pension.
Where does it say its a male officer?
There all corrupt a bit like politicians
Apart from the ones who have arrested the officer?
Take your blinkers off please your never see a poor copper
Not really true is it? Take a selection of a thousand people and a certain percentage will be corrupt. I do believe the selection process needs firming up and complaints need taking more seriously.
Really really you so so so live in the clouds or you on drugs
Do you say that when a member of the ‘public’ commits an alleged offence do you ?
No, I say they should feel the brunt of the law. Just as whoever this officer should feel it too. Your point is not a point.
Never called the police in my life and never would means and ways of dealing with it yourself least you get results you islanders why don’t you open your eyes
Exactly the kind of comment I would expect from someone who has a poor grasp of the English language.
And it will be revealed unto babes, as scholars will be blinded by their pompous intellectual so called knowledge.
So let’s get this right? If someone is allegeded to have done a crime, island echo names them. But if they are a police officer, its like the secret service! If its good enough for the public to be named, then it’s good enough for a public servant to be named. Care to respond island echo?
I believe cannot be named until proven guilty…
Not true look that Daryll Pitcher his name was all over the papers and even a picture of him. It’s because it’s the police we must protect them just like we did the air ambulance guy from the island.
Bs come on open your eyes!! it’s trial by media and how many fb likes you have. Or how many police your mates girlfriend knows. Wait until facial recognition is implemented. Rights lmao you lot give all your rights away. This so called free country has blindfolded you without you even realizing.
And why is it only the military get random drug wipes and checks not police., you will see how corrupt it really is if there was so called freedom of information. There’s no smoke without fire island echo.
This is karma I know the officer that assaulted a minor and the I know the minor myself
About time the iopc done their job The police force have so many corrupt officers in the force, They hide behind the uniform but defending the law sometimes used as a personal vendettas, them and Social services need investigating so many set ups have ruined people’s lives
Yeah and teachers! Then people would be able to talk proeprly.
Ever found a straight banana?
Why not name them? Anyone one else from any other sector would have their name plastered all over the place ? Other people might come forward whom were too scared to speak out before.
Why won’t you name him??????
You are more than eager to name and put photo of other people
Perhaps the police haven’t named him / her eh?
There are some poor police here. I chased a burglar who got into my neighbours house and caught him, when the police arrived they pulled a taser on me (without following the tazer use protocol), let the burglar run off, then set dogs on their own guys who were looking for the burglar.
I can just hear the ‘benny hill’ theme tune!
Ha yeah it would have been fitting.
I think we’d all like to know how you got the police to attend the scene of a burglary?
Oh, and what you did or said for them to pull a taser on you?
Won’t name an officer but would name if it was anything else. Shows the system and island echoes bias and preferential treatment.
Good God, we only have a ‘handful’ of Police and AT LEAST two are corrupt.
Once that Donna woman has finished arranging what colour curtains and cushions to put in the custody suit to help ‘calm’ those taken in, perhaps she could check out her staff’s credentials a little more carefully.
Funny how the coppers in question aren’t named and shamed like the general public..
Corruption is at every level,shame on you IOW police
That’s the Police for you. Self elected busy bodies. Deciding to be the custodians of public morality and safety whilst conducting their own behaviour in a self satisfying way. I’ve little time for them. Too many times as a youth, an adult and even as a mature, law abiding citizen have I been stopped in a vehicle on an arbitrary and spurious excuse, quizzed as to my comings and goings, and generally harangued on what was either a ‘guess work’ stop or a bit of boredom relief. All the while, people in genuine and sometimes urgent need are wating hours for a response from our supposedly busy and overstretched force. I’ll bet that a trawl of the whole bunch would bring up a lot of very unsavoury characters.
Imagine that, a criminal in a police officers uniform.
It’s like deja vu across the uk on a daily basis.
I bet it’s PC i be pooing my pants right now
What do you mean kn*b jockey
Knight u still growing and smoking pot
Wonder if he’s the cop with the criminals in his family
Keeping them out of the nick
Why doesn’t the island echo name this officer thet would and do name normal members of the public who are arrested rather one sided
I wouldn’t like to fall into that barrel
By not naming him they create mistrust of every officer. We live in a so-called democracy don’t we? They are after all public servants and we have no choice but to pay for them too. Name them!
And the police think that they deserve respect, well i have news for you, respect is earned not given as a right.
The couple of times i have had to deal with the island police i have found them incompetent, lazy and dishonest.
Is it the case of higher levels of police criminality, or simply better reporting and internal investigation? Back in the 80’s and 90’s, there was nowhere near the level of scrutiny or internal governance that there is now.
Whatever there are two in a handful, not good odds.
Wait until the P.C quota tick sheets need to be met here, likely then only two straight ones.
Such predictable inevitabilities, the unGodly demise of Britain continues apace.
When Tribulation is upon us, one will realise the gravity of one’s malevolent mistakes.
The freemason’s Police Force needs a spiritual shake up.
Really bad when you can’t trust the police you have asked to protect you. Poor show.