WMP officer in custody & 10 investigated after sexual misconduct allegations in firearms unit

West Midlands Police has arrested one of its own officers following allegations of sexual misconduct in its elite firearms unit.

Channel 4 reported that WMP officers were under investigation over alleged offensive messages and sexual misconduct last night (Wednesday, March 8).

Following the broadcast the force issued a statement to BirminghamWorld saying that it has arrested an officer aged in his 20s who remains in custody this morning (Thursday, March 9).

WMP also said that it is investigating a further 10 officers and police staff members regarding allegations that they communicated inappropriately and with discrimination on social media.

The force added that a number of these officers and staff were no longer in public facing roles. Sexual misconduct of police officers has been in the spotlight following the conviction of former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens who murdered Sarah Everard.

Earlier this week BirminghamWorld reported that ten complaints of sexual misconduct by West Midlands Police personnel were closed without being formally investigated last year, according to data from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Following the arrest of the officer last night WMP Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara said: “We know trust in policing has been deeply damaged in recent years, and can only be rebuilt by the public seeing the results of the action we’re taking.

“All police chiefs have been strengthening their misconduct and processes, addressing cultural problems and increasing action against violent men over the past two years.

“Every day the majority of our officers and staff work tirelessly to protect the public and perform their duties with the utmost professionalism and they will be disgusted at the behaviour of a small minority of individuals who fall below these standards and betray everything they stand for.

“There is no place in policing for misogynistic, discriminatory or disrespectful behaviour and we are working hard to ensure predatory individuals are not only rooted out of the force, but that vetting and standards are strengthened to ensure they cannot join the police in the first place.”