March 26, 2018 1.45 pm This story is over 72 months old

Detective sacked for failing to watch CCTV to rape case

Vital evidence could have been missed.

| Photo: Humberside Police

A policeman has been fired for failing to spot a rape victim and two suspects on CCTV.

Detective Constable Emyr Davies, 57, was brought before a disciplinary panel, which found he had committed gross misconduct by claiming to have watched the footage when he had not.

Humberside had been investigating a series of so-called ‘stranger rapes’ in 2015, the panel heard when it sat in Goole.

The incidents took place in Cleethorpes.

The hearing heard one suspect had been arrested and charged, but that another, who is said to have held her down, was never found.

Humberside Police said essential clues could have been missed due to Davies’ handling of the case.

DC Davies was cleared of two further allegations that he has lied about making an appointment with the Crown Prosecution service, and that he had watched CCTV relating to the rape cases at high speed and while playing a computer game.

The panel found the further claims were not proven on considering the evidence put before them.

Detective Superintendent Matt Baldwin said: “We welcome the panel’s decision. Providing the best possible service to victims is at the heart of everything we do and the actions of Mr Davies fell well below that standard.

“There was also the potential for serious repercussions and that is why matters of this nature are always taken extremely seriously.

“We carried out a full internal investigation of the circumstances and his actions were deemed so serious it was necessary we ensured he faced a hearing for gross misconduct.

“The allegations were found proven and Mr Davies has now been dismissed.”

Humberside Police did not initially name the detective involved in the misconduct hearing as part of an order made by the Legally Qualified Chair Simon Mallett, but later did so to ensure proceedings were transparent.