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| Policeman who slept with rape victim to dodge gross misconduct charge | Policeman who slept with rape victim to dodge gross misconduct charge |
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| A Metropolitan police detective who admitted having sex with a rape victim intends to retire and avoid disciplinary action for gross misconduct in direct contradiction of new rules brought in by the home secretary. | |
| Robert Dawson, a detective sergeant from the Metropolitan police’s specialist sex crime unit, has admitted sleeping with a woman who had made an allegation of rape that he was investigating. | |
| The officer was acquitted of a criminal charge of misconduct in public office earlier this month but is still facing a gross misconduct hearing for inappropriate behaviour with a victim. | The officer was acquitted of a criminal charge of misconduct in public office earlier this month but is still facing a gross misconduct hearing for inappropriate behaviour with a victim. |
| Although he was still an officer under suspension, he applied to retire from the force 10 days ago – a decision that is being challenged by the victim and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | |
| Fiona Taylor, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police professional standards department, lifted Dawson’s suspension last week, paving the way for him to retire. | |
| The woman said in a statement to the Guardian: “I am very distressed to learn that his suspension has been lifted and he is allowed to return to work as a police officer again. I expected a hearing as a consequence of my complaint. He should be disciplined for what he did. He should not be able to retire like nothing happened. | The woman said in a statement to the Guardian: “I am very distressed to learn that his suspension has been lifted and he is allowed to return to work as a police officer again. I expected a hearing as a consequence of my complaint. He should be disciplined for what he did. He should not be able to retire like nothing happened. |
| “I feel so scared that a police officer could do that to me when I was at my most vulnerable and that nothing is being done about it. I feel even more vulnerable now because I have no faith in the justice system or the police to protect me.’ | “I feel so scared that a police officer could do that to me when I was at my most vulnerable and that nothing is being done about it. I feel even more vulnerable now because I have no faith in the justice system or the police to protect me.’ |
| The decision by Taylor appears to be in direct contradiction of new rules brought in by home secretary, Theresa May, this year to prevent police officers resigning or retiring to avoid disciplinary action that could lead to their dismissal. She had previously said that 144 police officers facing gross misconduct investigations resigned or retired and escaped any sanction between December 2013 and August 2014. | The decision by Taylor appears to be in direct contradiction of new rules brought in by home secretary, Theresa May, this year to prevent police officers resigning or retiring to avoid disciplinary action that could lead to their dismissal. She had previously said that 144 police officers facing gross misconduct investigations resigned or retired and escaped any sanction between December 2013 and August 2014. |
| A statement from the Met suggested the force was still considering an application from Dawson to retire, but no final decision had been made. The officer, the spokesman said, was on restricted duties, following the lifting of his suspension. | A statement from the Met suggested the force was still considering an application from Dawson to retire, but no final decision had been made. The officer, the spokesman said, was on restricted duties, following the lifting of his suspension. |
| However, legal sources close to the case said the Met had no power to prevent Dawson from retiring now that he was no longer under suspension. | However, legal sources close to the case said the Met had no power to prevent Dawson from retiring now that he was no longer under suspension. |
| Dawson was put under investigation by the Met’s professional standards department after the woman made a complaint that in 2010, while investigating her rape, the detective had abused his position to groom her and have sex with her. | Dawson was put under investigation by the Met’s professional standards department after the woman made a complaint that in 2010, while investigating her rape, the detective had abused his position to groom her and have sex with her. |
| She reported being raped in 2009 by a work colleague. Dawson, a detective from the Sapphire Unit in Stratford, east London, led the investigation, often visiting her at home on his own. | She reported being raped in 2009 by a work colleague. Dawson, a detective from the Sapphire Unit in Stratford, east London, led the investigation, often visiting her at home on his own. |
| The detective was charged with a count of misconduct in public office and faced trial at Southwark Crown court this month. Dawson, who had access to the woman’s medical records, which detailed her history of depression and self harm, admitted to the jury that he had sex with the rape complainant on one occasion. He denied a second sexual encounter. | The detective was charged with a count of misconduct in public office and faced trial at Southwark Crown court this month. Dawson, who had access to the woman’s medical records, which detailed her history of depression and self harm, admitted to the jury that he had sex with the rape complainant on one occasion. He denied a second sexual encounter. |
| The 49-year-old married officer said he felt sorry for the victim when the Crown Prosecution Service announced they were not going to charge her alleged rapist. “I felt the only person she would talk to is me and I wasn’t going to leave her,” he told the jury, denying that he was grooming or wooing her. | The 49-year-old married officer said he felt sorry for the victim when the Crown Prosecution Service announced they were not going to charge her alleged rapist. “I felt the only person she would talk to is me and I wasn’t going to leave her,” he told the jury, denying that he was grooming or wooing her. |
| The court heard Dawson sent her texts, including one saying: “U R not alone. I am here and always will be. I think U R so brave, I wish I could do more.” Other texts were littered with smiley faces and kisses, including one that urged the woman to “trust me x”. | |
| A jury acquitted Dawson of the criminal charge of misconduct in public office earlier this month, but he still faces a disciplinary case of gross misconduct for inappropriate behaviour with a victim. | A jury acquitted Dawson of the criminal charge of misconduct in public office earlier this month, but he still faces a disciplinary case of gross misconduct for inappropriate behaviour with a victim. |
| In January, May introduced new regulations to stop officers avoiding disciplinary action by quitting a force. May said the idea of officers avoiding disciplinary action by leaving directly damaged public confidence in the police. | In January, May introduced new regulations to stop officers avoiding disciplinary action by quitting a force. May said the idea of officers avoiding disciplinary action by leaving directly damaged public confidence in the police. |
| “The public rightly expects police officers to act with the highest standards of integrity and for those suspected of misconduct to be subject to formal disciplinary proceedings,” said May. ”The ability of officers to avoid potential dismissal by resigning or retiring is an unacceptable situation.” | “The public rightly expects police officers to act with the highest standards of integrity and for those suspected of misconduct to be subject to formal disciplinary proceedings,” said May. ”The ability of officers to avoid potential dismissal by resigning or retiring is an unacceptable situation.” |
| • This article was amended on 25 June 2015 to make it clear that Dawson’s application to retire has not yet been approved. |