West Midlands Police officer sacked for relationship with a domestic abuse victim

West Midlands Police has sacked an officer for abusing his position of trust after he engaged in a relationship with a domestic abuse victim during the course of his duties.

James Ankrett admitted corrupt or other improper exercise of police powers at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 14 September.

The former force response officer was charged following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in 2019 which found he had formed an inappropriate relationship with the woman in July 2017.

West Midlands Police put Ankrett on restricted duties and he worked in a non-public facing role while the investigation was carried out .

He was suspended from duty after appearing at court.

He was dismissed without notice following an accelerated misconduct hearing on Thursday (14 October).

Trust in police has been analysed following Sarah Everard’s murder by a Metropolitan Police officer who used his warrant card to abduct her. West Midlands Police previously told BirminghamWorld that the force acknowledged that it needed to do more to protect women following a survey it carried out in response to Sarah’s death and that of Julia James in Kent.

What did the police say about the dismissal of James Ankrett from the force?

Chairing the misconduct panel hearing about James Ankett’s case, Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “This behaviour is a matter of deep public concern at this time. The issue of Violence Against Women and Girls requires the police to act as champions for the fair treatment of women. Public trust is undermined when officers behave as this officer has.

He added: "Officers like this have no place in West Midlands Police. They are an abhorrence to the men and women who make up this organisation who go out day in day out to protect the most vulnerable. They damage our standing and professional reputation. We will root them out and not only dismiss them but actively seek prosecutions when criminal laws have been broken."

Ankrett will be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.

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