A Metropolitan Police officer who allegedly spanked a 12-year-old girl’s bottom has been sacked and barred from working in policing again.
PC Ross Benson, from the Met’s North West Basic Command Unit, was accused of hitting the girl on several occasions between April and August 2018.
The incidents, from when the child was between 12 and 13, were of an alleged sexual nature and happened when PC Benson was off-duty.
The officer was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in November 2020 by Bedfordshire Police – but was told that no further action would be taken the following September.
The officer has been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list
PA
On Friday, a Metropolitan Police hearing found that Benson had breached the force’s standard of professional behaviour at the level of gross misconduct.
The officer was subsequently dismissed from the Met without notice – and has been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.
In response to the hearing’s outcome, the force’s Detective Superintendent Will Lexton-Jones said: “My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim who displayed courage in reporting this.
“PC Benson’s abhorrent behaviour has led to his immediate dismissal, which is a decision I fully support.
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“I hope this outcome demonstrates how we are rooting out those who do not demonstrate the high standards we demand from our officers.”
College of Policing guidelines for gross misconduct dismissals state that Benson will be awarded the chance to appeal his verdict after five years have passed.
But his case is one of a string of sexual offence allegations and convictions within the Met – just this month, ex-officer Mark Tyrell was charged with 15 counts of sexual assault and two of rape while serving member of the force Jake Cummings was charged with rape and coercive control in June this year.
Back in 2022, sexual offence allegations against Metropolitan Police officers reached a decade-long high, having doubled in the year following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by off-duty officer Wayne Couzens.
Benson’s case is one of a string of sexual offence allegations and convictions within the Met
PA
Official data showed some 251 allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment and other sexual offences were filed against officers or staff in 2021.
Those 251 included 190 allegations made internally by police colleagues – a 104 per cent jump from 2020, and a 206 per cent increase on 2010’s figures.
Last year, it came to light that 120 serving Met Police officers were still performing their normal duties – despite being accused of sexual or domestic abuse offences.