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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/30/police-officer-avoids-sack-for-mocking-colleagues-cosmetic-surgery
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| Police officer avoids sack for mocking colleague's cosmetic surgery | Police officer avoids sack for mocking colleague's cosmetic surgery |
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| One of Britain’s most senior female police officers has been allowed to keep her job after she launched a drunken tirade at a junior colleague for undergoing cosmetic surgery. | One of Britain’s most senior female police officers has been allowed to keep her job after she launched a drunken tirade at a junior colleague for undergoing cosmetic surgery. |
| Assistant chief constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, of Greater Manchester police, told Supt Sarah Jackson that her “credibility was zero” and that she was a “laughing stock” after she had breast augmentation. | |
| She told Jackson she would be judged professionally “on the size of her tits”, then pulled down the front of her own dress and said: “Look at these, look at these, these are the breasts of someone who has had three children. They are ugly but I don’t feel the need to pump myself full of silicone to get self-esteem.” | She told Jackson she would be judged professionally “on the size of her tits”, then pulled down the front of her own dress and said: “Look at these, look at these, these are the breasts of someone who has had three children. They are ugly but I don’t feel the need to pump myself full of silicone to get self-esteem.” |
| A disciplinary panel ruled in December that Sutcliffe had breached standards of professional behaviour and that the gross misconduct had taken her to “the very precipice of dismissal”. | A disciplinary panel ruled in December that Sutcliffe had breached standards of professional behaviour and that the gross misconduct had taken her to “the very precipice of dismissal”. |
| However, it accepted that the behaviour was out of character and recommended that she should be issued with a final written warning. | However, it accepted that the behaviour was out of character and recommended that she should be issued with a final written warning. |
| Ian Pilling, GMP’s deputy chief constable, ruled on Monday that Sutcliffe could keep her job but admitted the decision would damage public confidence in the police. | |
| He said: “Despite being absolutely appalled at her behaviour and all too aware of the damage to public confidence, I do not think I can take a different view without any significant reason to do so.” | He said: “Despite being absolutely appalled at her behaviour and all too aware of the damage to public confidence, I do not think I can take a different view without any significant reason to do so.” |
| In a statement after the ruling, Sutcliffe said she had sought professional counselling “to ensure this never happens again”. | In a statement after the ruling, Sutcliffe said she had sought professional counselling “to ensure this never happens again”. |
| She said: “I deeply regret what happened and the impact it has had upon those people. I continue to feel very ashamed that I behaved in this way. I would also like to apologise now to the public – for the unpleasant nature of the incident and for the fact that I have let them down.” | She said: “I deeply regret what happened and the impact it has had upon those people. I continue to feel very ashamed that I behaved in this way. I would also like to apologise now to the public – for the unpleasant nature of the incident and for the fact that I have let them down.” |
| Sutcliffe was the most senior female officer at GMP at the time of the incident, which happened at a gala dinner at the national Senior Women in Policing conference on 6 May 2016. | Sutcliffe was the most senior female officer at GMP at the time of the incident, which happened at a gala dinner at the national Senior Women in Policing conference on 6 May 2016. |
| The row ended with Sutcliffe saying she would no longer support a promotion for Jackson. Sutcliffe had earlier appointed Jackson as a temporary superintendent in a secondment role. | The row ended with Sutcliffe saying she would no longer support a promotion for Jackson. Sutcliffe had earlier appointed Jackson as a temporary superintendent in a secondment role. |
| The hearing heard that Jackson, who has since transferred to Cumbria constabulary, had been left “shocked, mortified, embarrassed and ashamed” at the comments and had suffered “great anxiety from the night itself and since”. | The hearing heard that Jackson, who has since transferred to Cumbria constabulary, had been left “shocked, mortified, embarrassed and ashamed” at the comments and had suffered “great anxiety from the night itself and since”. |
| She said: “It has been the most distressing and hurtful experience of my life.” | She said: “It has been the most distressing and hurtful experience of my life.” |
| Sutcliffe had admitted the less serious allegation of misconduct in failing to treat a colleague with respect or courtesy and abusing her position and authority. She acknowledged that her actions discredited the police service, but denied gross misconduct. | Sutcliffe had admitted the less serious allegation of misconduct in failing to treat a colleague with respect or courtesy and abusing her position and authority. She acknowledged that her actions discredited the police service, but denied gross misconduct. |
| The chair of the panel, Rachel Crasnow QC, said Sutcliffe had “behaved shockingly, cruelly and hurtfully”. Sitting with the chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Tom Winsor, and independent member Alastair Cannon, Crasnow said: “It was gratuitous behaviour and the conversation started on her own initiative. She abused her senior position and referred to third parties in a hectoring and bullying way. It was a prolonged and deliberate attack upon Supt Jackson.” | The chair of the panel, Rachel Crasnow QC, said Sutcliffe had “behaved shockingly, cruelly and hurtfully”. Sitting with the chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Tom Winsor, and independent member Alastair Cannon, Crasnow said: “It was gratuitous behaviour and the conversation started on her own initiative. She abused her senior position and referred to third parties in a hectoring and bullying way. It was a prolonged and deliberate attack upon Supt Jackson.” |
| The incident eclipsed the good work of the Women in Policing conference and damaged both GMP and policing nationally, Crasnow added. | The incident eclipsed the good work of the Women in Policing conference and damaged both GMP and policing nationally, Crasnow added. |
| Ian Hopkins, GMP’s chief constable, said in a statement that the force had been “legally left little alternative” but to allow Sutcliffe to keep her job after the panel’s recommendation. | |
| He said he would write to the home secretary, Amber Rudd, to argue that the public disciplinary process, introduced two years ago to increase transparency, should apply to all officers. | |
| Hopkins said: “The two phase process that only exists for chief officers has left us in a difficult situation and I am writing to the Home Office to call for the process to be standardised for all police officers. | |
| “The details in the report have clearly outlined the panel’s position and legally left little alternative but to follow the panel’s recommendation. The matter should have been concluded at the original hearing for the sake of all concerned and Greater Manchester police.” | |
| He added: “The events in May last year cast a shadow over what was an important event to recognise the contribution of women in policing. When I was made aware of what happened I immediately arranged for an outside force to investigate and ACC Sutcliffe was suspended from duty. ACC Sutcliffe has been through a completely open, transparent and independent misconduct process. | |
| “What is important now is that we move forward. ACC Sutcliffe has by her own admission behaved in an unacceptable manner and has apologised at the outset. ACC Sutcliffe has been given a chance to demonstrate that she is committed to serving the people of Greater Manchester. We will now work with her to consider how she best achieves this in support of Greater Manchester police.” |