PC failed to act on repeated rape report - hearing

A police officer who failed to act on a victim's reports of rape has been given a final written warning following a misconduct hearing.

A North Yorkshire Police hearing found PC Adam Bray's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

However, the misconduct panel said the reports were made during a callout to a "very challenging and volatile" incident and PC Bray had "clearly attempted to do the right thing on the night".

The panel concluded: "It is not necessary and would be disproportionate to dismiss PC Bray for a single isolated incident by an inexperienced officer, set against an otherwise good record."

The hearing at North Yorkshire Police HQ in Northallerton was told that PC Bray and another officer had been called to a domestic incident in August 2022.

During the course of the incident, a woman repeatedly told the officers she had been raped.

According to the misconduct panel, the officer failed to make a record of the reported rape, did not initiate a criminal investigation and did not request assistance so they could deal with the serious allegation.

The panel found PC Bray "failed to act on her many reports of rape".

"[The officer] failed to treat her with respect by failing to listen to her, notwithstanding that she was heavily intoxicated and that the situation was a very difficult one," they said.

The failings could "undermine confidence in the police" and "undermines the confidence of victims of domestic abuse in reporting crime", they added.

PC Bray admitted misconduct, acknowledged his failings and took responsibility for his actions, the meeting heard.

The warning means if PC Bray is found to breach police standards in future he would likely be dismissed.

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