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| South Wales police favouritism case: 'They leaked the information to him' | South Wales police favouritism case: 'They leaked the information to him' |
| (25 days later) | |
| One alleged victim of domestic abuse made a formal complaint about the way South Wales police favoured her partner, a serving officer in the force. | One alleged victim of domestic abuse made a formal complaint about the way South Wales police favoured her partner, a serving officer in the force. |
| The woman said in documents supporting her complaint that she had been left in limbo by the force's professional standards unit eight months after lodging her complaint. Her ex-partner, a serving officer, was arrested and placed on restricted duties after she went to the police. He was never charged and has returned to his normal duties. | The woman said in documents supporting her complaint that she had been left in limbo by the force's professional standards unit eight months after lodging her complaint. Her ex-partner, a serving officer, was arrested and placed on restricted duties after she went to the police. He was never charged and has returned to his normal duties. |
| The woman said her partner had repeatedly threatened that if she ever went to the police he would tell his friends in the force that she was making up allegations. "He threatened to arrest me," she said. "He got his warrant card out, and he told me he had told his sergeant about me. He said he would get his mate to do me for assault if I ever reported him. So I was always terrified to report him or do anything about him." | The woman said her partner had repeatedly threatened that if she ever went to the police he would tell his friends in the force that she was making up allegations. "He threatened to arrest me," she said. "He got his warrant card out, and he told me he had told his sergeant about me. He said he would get his mate to do me for assault if I ever reported him. So I was always terrified to report him or do anything about him." |
| But after suffering three attacks in five days in the summer of 2012, her uncle, an officer in another force outside Wales, went to the police on her behalf. | But after suffering three attacks in five days in the summer of 2012, her uncle, an officer in another force outside Wales, went to the police on her behalf. |
| Shortly afterwards the woman was visited by officers from the domestic violence unit of South Wales police and agreed to go to the station the following day to make a formal statement. | Shortly afterwards the woman was visited by officers from the domestic violence unit of South Wales police and agreed to go to the station the following day to make a formal statement. |
| The next morning, however, her partner contacted her and demanded to know why she had reported him. "They leaked the information to him and they put me at risk by doing that," she said. | The next morning, however, her partner contacted her and demanded to know why she had reported him. "They leaked the information to him and they put me at risk by doing that," she said. |
| As a result her partner changed the locks on their house – documents seen by the Guardian confirm this – leaving her with no access to her belongings or to her home. The officer was bailed to his own address after being arrested by his colleagues – which forced the woman to seek alternative accommodation. | As a result her partner changed the locks on their house – documents seen by the Guardian confirm this – leaving her with no access to her belongings or to her home. The officer was bailed to his own address after being arrested by his colleagues – which forced the woman to seek alternative accommodation. |
| Her case was taken up by Jonathan Evans MP. In a letter to the chief constable of South Wales police, Evans said the alleged leaking of information to the officer and the fact that he was bailed to his own address "effectively made Miss X homeless and dependent on the protection of a Women's Aid hostel". | Her case was taken up by Jonathan Evans MP. In a letter to the chief constable of South Wales police, Evans said the alleged leaking of information to the officer and the fact that he was bailed to his own address "effectively made Miss X homeless and dependent on the protection of a Women's Aid hostel". |
| He added: "I cannot recollect any case I ever dealt with in my professional career where an individual arrested for domestic violence by the South Wales police was ever 'favoured' in this way. Invariably it would be the police condition of bail that the suspect provide an alternative address to the victim. | He added: "I cannot recollect any case I ever dealt with in my professional career where an individual arrested for domestic violence by the South Wales police was ever 'favoured' in this way. Invariably it would be the police condition of bail that the suspect provide an alternative address to the victim. |
| "Such a decision by the South Wales police certainly seems to be a second instance of inappropriate favouritism towards a serving police officer to the detriment of an alleged victim of domestic violence." | "Such a decision by the South Wales police certainly seems to be a second instance of inappropriate favouritism towards a serving police officer to the detriment of an alleged victim of domestic violence." |
| He noted that the victim had asked for another force to investigate her complaint – but that request had been refused. | He noted that the victim had asked for another force to investigate her complaint – but that request had been refused. |
| In a letter to the woman, Deputy Chief Constable Matt Jukes said: "The concerns you have expressed concerning the potential leaking of information from the time your initial criminal complaint are grave and are issues which South Wales police take extremely seriously. | In a letter to the woman, Deputy Chief Constable Matt Jukes said: "The concerns you have expressed concerning the potential leaking of information from the time your initial criminal complaint are grave and are issues which South Wales police take extremely seriously. |
| "The possibility that information may have been passed by 'word of mouth' is ... serious and has attracted a specific investigation. As a result, our professional standards department have been able to identify a number of individuals with knowledge of your case and are investigating whether they have made any inappropriate disclosures." | "The possibility that information may have been passed by 'word of mouth' is ... serious and has attracted a specific investigation. As a result, our professional standards department have been able to identify a number of individuals with knowledge of your case and are investigating whether they have made any inappropriate disclosures." |
| Eight months on the force has not given the victim any more information about the internal investigation and no officers have been disciplined or interviewed over the leak. Her former partner – who was never charged – has returned to his duties. | Eight months on the force has not given the victim any more information about the internal investigation and no officers have been disciplined or interviewed over the leak. Her former partner – who was never charged – has returned to his duties. |
| South Wales police refused to comment, saying the investigation was ongoing. Sandra Laville | South Wales police refused to comment, saying the investigation was ongoing. Sandra Laville |
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