A high degree of culpability
Erm…this isn’t already the case?
Police officers violent to women will be sacked under new guidance
New guidance? What was the old guidance?
The College of Policing has reviewed the penalties for breaches of police standards in a bid to “bring common sense and consistency” to the process.
It concludes violence against women or girls by police officers will always have a “high degree of culpability”.
What did it have until now?
Setting out the current problems, Chief Constable Andy Marsh, the college’s chief executive, said: “I have spoken before about my frustration at having to re-admit officers to my workforce who I thought should have been shown the door.”
That does sound frustrating.
“Sir, excuse me, sir…”.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Well, sir, it seems our policy isn’t working.”
“What policy is that?”
“You know, where we promote officers who assault women.”
“Isn’t working? But how…?”
“Well, sir, it doesn’t seem to be preventing assaults. In fact, it’s having quite the opposite effect.”
“You mean…?”
“Yes, it seems that it encourages officers to assault women.”
“Encourages them? Who would have thought?”
“Well, sir…”.
“I mean, no one could have foreseen it.”
“Indeed.”
“Well, what do you suggest we do?”
“Well, I know that this is unusual, but perhaps if we punish those officers.”
“Punish them? But how?”
“We could sack them.”
“Sack them?”
“Yes.”
“For a mere assault?”
“Yes.”
“But that’s unheard of!”
“Indeed it is.”
“Still, it’s so crazy it just might work.”
Police who assault women and girls should of course face consequences. But… shouldn’t police who assault anyone face consequences? I mean, simple rules are easier to follow than complex rules. If an officer has different rules of engagement and different consequences for committing sex (or gender) based assaults, ‘mistakes’ will occur.