A former senior Met police officer is facing investigations over allegations that the “most significant part” of rape complaints has been described as “unfortunate sex”, according to an investigation by Channel 4 News.
Sir Stephen House, who was acting Met Commissioner after the sacking of Dame Cressida Dick, is alleged to have made the remarks to the Home Office adviser during a meeting at Scotland Yard in January 2022.
Sir Stephen strongly denies the allegations and said he welcomed the investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. He described the term “unfortunate sex” as “distasteful”.
The former senior officer allegedly made the remarks to Professor Betsy Stanko, who was hired by the Home Office to conduct an audit of the increased number of rape cases brought to court.
Professor Stanko began her review, Operation Soteria Bluestone’, in 2021 and met Sir Stephen at Scotland Yard in January 2022.
Sir Stephen House, who was acting Met Commissioner after the sacking of Dame Cressida Dick, is alleged to have made the comments to a Home Office adviser during a meeting at Scotland Yard in January 2022
The former senior officer allegedly made the comments about Professor Betsy Stanko, who was hired by the Home Office to conduct a review into the surge in rape cases and refer them to court.
In a report published in December, the review found “widespread failures” in police rape and sexual offense units. The researchers found that there was a culture of “victim infidelity” and that the officers had an “inherent bias”.
In an interview with Channel 4 Investigations Editor Cathy Newman, Professor Stanko claims Sir Stephen made the remarks at a meeting with senior officers at Scotland Yard to discuss the results of her project.
‘I felt like him,’ said Professor Stanko [Sir Stephen] He was trying to downplay the problem, not to take it seriously. He used terms to describe – or a term to describe – what he believed the bulk of rape complaints were, namely the term “unfortunate sex”.
Addressing the issue of ‘deplorable sex’, Professor Stanko added: “The only way I understand the term ‘deplorable sex’ – and it has been said by officers elsewhere, in other forces we have visited and researched – is in relation to the victim. Again, the victim is at fault. This has not been crossed. Mistake forced sex, which is rape, because it must have been a confusion The problem was about confusion, not about facts or evidence that would have been gathered if one were trying to investigate rape.
Professor Stanko was making her first public comments since her paper was published.
In response to the allegations, the Metropolitan Police asked the IOPC to investigate the allegation.
Sir Stephen allegedly made the remarks during a meeting at Scotland Yard, pictured
Deputy Commissioner Lynn Owens said: “Having learned of an allegation that these comments were made by a senior Metropolitan Police officer, we are referring the matter to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.”
Sir Stephen told Channel 4 News:
I have dedicated more than four decades of public service to protecting the public from predatory offenders.
“I categorically deny the use of the phrase ‘unfortunate sex.’ These are not words I have ever used in connection with rape or sexual assault and the reason I am so certain I have not said that is because I simply do not believe it; I find the phrase repugnant.
I find this characterization of myself deeply disturbing, and colleagues who know me know how untrue it is.
Channel 4 News said it spoke to two people who are believed to have been in the room at the time the alleged comments were made. One said he “didn’t remember” the comments, while the other endorsed Professor Stanko’s account.
Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Sarah Crowe, who oversaw Operation Soteria Bluestone, said she had no reason not to believe Professor Stanko’s account.
Professor Stanko took the allegation to the chief of police who was the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council on Adult Sex Offenses.
She said: “The reference to ‘unfortunate sex’ was one of several comments collected by academics that point to outdated cultures and beliefs in the Metropolitan Police Service and in other forces.
She added: “I cannot comment on whether those comments were made by the Deputy Commissioner as I was not at the meeting where they were allegedly made.”
On her view of whether House’s alleged comments reflect a broader pattern in policing, Crowe adds:
“It doesn’t surprise me, because we found it across five police forces.”
The investigation includes the police chief’s reflections on the successes of “Operation Soteria Bluestone”, after putting her strength under the microscope as part of the review and her hopes for restoring credibility in policing. Crew comments:
“Our legitimacy depends on how we deal with these things that are within our organizations in our organization, in our culture, and it’s going to take a systemic approach to doing that and there’s a role for each and every one of us in it.”
Cathy Newman also asked Professor Stanko if she was confident that the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley would fix the current problems of rape and violence against women, Stanko comments:
“I’m not sure I would say trust, I would say I hope he does. I think it’s a long job. I think it requires a lot more organizational change than I think is understood at the moment.”
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Deputy Commissioner Ms Lynn Owens said:
Rape is a horrific crime with a devastating and lasting impact.
The comments in the Operation Soteria Bluestone report are completely unacceptable.
We understand that they risk further undermining victims’ confidence in progress, and this is deeply regrettable.
“Having learned of the allegation that the comments were made by a senior Metropolitan Police officer, we are referring the matter to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Rape and sexual offenses are some of the most shocking offences, and it is vital that victims know they will be taken seriously and their allegations thoroughly investigated.
“Now it has been referred to the IOPC, and the Home Secretary has agreed with the Chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council Martin Hewitt that Sir Stephen House should step back from the review to the productivity of policing.”
Sir Stephen House’s full statement to Channel 4 News following tonight’s allegations
Sir Stephen House, pictured, vigorously denies the claim and says he looks forward to an IOPC investigation into his behaviour
Dear Ms. Newman
I have dedicated more than four decades of public service to protecting the public from predatory offenders.
I categorically deny the use of the phrase “unfortunate sex.” These are not words I’ve ever used in connection with rape or sexual assault and the reason I’m so sure I haven’t said that is because I simply don’t believe it; I find the phrase distasteful.
Rape is a truly appalling crime, and I and many other colleagues have endeavored to improve the service that victims of rape receive; Of course there is still a lot to do. The Met and I accepted all recommendations made by the authors of this work and began implementing them immediately to improve the Met’s response to rape and serious sexual assault.
Throughout my police career, and particularly in recent years as Chief Constable of Strathclyde Constabulary, Police Scotland and as Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, I have led thousands of officers in work to bring perpetrators of rape to justice, to ensure that victims are heard, supported and safeguarded, and that rape investigation and detection is prioritized .
As a civil servant and father of two daughters, I find this description of myself deeply disturbing, and colleagues who know me know how untrue it is.
I believe the Metropolitan Police will refer this situation to the IOPC for investigation and I wholeheartedly welcome that.
Sir Steve House QBM
Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk