Cops fired and others resign over sexual misconduct allegations
TWO South Yorkshire Police officers have been fired for sexual misconduct, with another four resigning ahead of disciplinary hearings in the last three years.
Another four would have been dismissed, according to the force, with a colleague’s service also ending.
Those cases were among 58 allegations of sexual misconduct made over the course of three years, from 2023 to 2025.
Around a quarter of cases involved people accused of abusing their position for a sexual purpose, with the rest categorised as sexual misconduct.
Numbers of complaints were at their highest in 2024, with 22 cases reported, with 18 in each of the other two years.
Seventeen remainl unresolved, but of those which have been concluded, 27 people were found to have had “no case answered”, with one complaint also withdrawn.
One person has received a final written warning, while others have been instructed to take part in reflective practice, or reflective learning.
Det Chief Insp Rebecca Hodgman, from the force’s Professional Standards Department, said: "Our public should feel safe when in communication or contact with our officers, which is why we take swift action against the small minority those who fall below the high standards expected in policing.
"All complaints are investigated accordingly and any appropriate action will be taken.
“This includes complaints which come from within our force as well.
"Our officers and staff have the right to feel supported in the workplace.
“We have a comprehensive process in place for when an internal complaint is made, with support provided from the force and partner agencies.
"We take reported complaints incredibly seriously and would encourage anyone who is concerned about the behaviour of a police officer to come forward and report it."
The figures emerged as former SYP officer Christopher Cave pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office, for forming a sexual relationship with a victim of crime.
That began in 2004, when he served with the Nottinghamshire force, went on to 2011, a year after he joined South Yorkshire Police.
Cave, aged 61, of Formby, Merseyside, will be sentenced later.
Crimestoppers also operates a ‘police integrity’ line to flag concerns about staff behaviour.
Last year 56 reports were made, with 86 the previous year and 25 in 2023.
It is not known whether any sexual misconduct allegations were made via that service.