Statement from Deputy Chief Constable following reporting over misconduct of West Berkshire officers

Thames Valley Police Deputy Chief Constable is releasing the following statement following reporting around an incident in January 2023 involving officers based in Newbury, who made inappropriate comments about a woman while viewing body-worn video.

An investigation into this matter was conducted by our Professional Standards Department, and a number of the officers involved were given sanctions as a result.

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: “We pride ourselves in treating people with fairness and respect. The behaviour of the officers in this case fell well below the standards we expect from our people, and I thank the former student officer who reported this. Their action allowed us to act immediately to investigate, and subsequently sanction the officers involved.

“It’s critical our officers and staff feel they can come forward and report issues to the force, so I must make it very clear the former student officer who reported this to us did not lose their employment as a result. We took action to support them through the complaint process, and the later ending of their employment is an entirely separate matter.

“We strive to promote a culture of transparency and welcome greater scrutiny of our actions. We have therefore referred this case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. We will also work closely with our local independent scrutiny group, comprised of members of the public, to review this incident and consider any further learnings.”

GFL