Written warning for South Yorkshire Police officer over sex assault investigation

The officer was disciplined following an internal investigation carried out in response to a complaint from a member of the public.

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The officer accepted that he had failed to take ‘sufficient steps’ to investigate the importance of a mobile phone to the sex assault probe.

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A misconduct hearing ruled that an examination of the phone, together with evidence already available, could have resulted in the conviction of an offender.

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: “An officer accepted that he had failed to take sufficient steps to further investigate a mobile phone used in a sexual assault.

“The officer also accepted that he failed to complete documentation to the Crown Prosecution Service, which would have highlighted the importance of the mobile phone in relation to the sexual assault that, together with the evidence already available, could have resulted in the conviction of the perpetrator.

“The officer accepted that he had acted in breach of the professional standards regarding orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.

“The officer accepted that the conduct amounted to misconduct and the chair determined that the most appropriate outcome was a written warning.”

During another misconduct hearing this month, an officer received a final written warning for failing to notify bosses of a County Court Judgement against them and for submitting an insurance claim for being off sick when the officer was not entitled to claim.