By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-10-04 13:10:17 | Updated at 2024-10-04 15:30:01
2 hours ago
A former police leader has been found to have committed gross misconduct after making a sexual remark about an officer’s widow.
John Apter, the former chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, was alleged to have told colleagues he would like to “comfort” Lissie Harper in his hotel room, months after her husband Andrew’s death.
Hampshire constabulary disciplinary tribunal ruled on Friday that Apter committed gross misconduct by making the sexualised comment.
Apter was also alleged to have said in reference to Harper: “I wouldn’t mind looking after her tonight.”
He was cleared of telling a pregnant woman “maybe you’ll get a bum now” and of touching a younger female colleague’s bottom.
PC Andrew Harper, who served with the Thames Valley force, died after being dragged for more than a mile behind a car in August 2019 after trying to thwart the theft of a quad bike. His feet became trapped in a tow rope attached to a car used by the thieves and he died from his injuries.
Presenting the case against Apter in September, the barrister Cecily White said Apter’s “sexist and derogatory” comments, as well as his behaviour, showed a clear pattern.
The tribunal’s legally qualified chair, Giles Pengelly, said of Apter’s conduct: “We find the comment made about Lissie Harper proved and is proved to the level of gross misconduct.”
More details soon …
