Elizabeth Haigh reported today, August 2, 2024, that a woman who had been waiting five years for a hearing related to misconduct by a Met Police officer is deeply dissatisfied with the outcome.
The officer in question, former PC Phil Hunter, 60, was found guilty of gross misconduct today. He had pursued inappropriate relationships with two vulnerable women during welfare checks.
Hunter resigned before any disciplinary action could be taken against him, and now one of the women, speaking under the pseudonym Lorraine, says that the process has caused her more harm than the officer’s actions ever did.
Phil Hunter, who had served in the Diplomatic Protection unit alongside notorious figures like Wayne Couzens and David Carrick, was found to have acted inappropriately with the women he met during his official duties.
With the first woman, who was suicidal, Hunter had a sexual relationship and sent explicit photos, even asking for more intimate pictures.
His actions were so damaging that the woman attempted suicide.
The second woman, Lorraine, was given Hunter’s personal phone number and faced a predatory relationship that was deemed for sexual gain.
Lorraine had to endure a lengthy and damaging wait for justice, which she now feels was more harmful than Hunter’s original misconduct.
Lorraine has expressed strong condemnation of the misconduct process.
Despite the panel’s findings, she was frustrated that her video testimony wasn’t considered.
In a letter shared with MailOnline, she voiced her disappointment, emphasizing that while the facts were clear, it was crucial for her as a victim to have her voice heard.
She reflected on how the process, which took around 1,800 days, treated her poorly and questioned why it took so long. Lorraine also accused the Met Police of unauthorized access to her personal health records, which she believes was an attempt to undermine her allegations.
Long Road to Resolution
Lorraine’s struggle highlights systemic issues in handling such cases. The Metropolitan Police initially refused to hold a hearing for her claims, but the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) later intervened, ruling that all cases of gross misconduct must be reviewed by a panel.
Despite the resolution, Lorraine feels that her fight was incredibly draining and that the support she received from friends, media, and various advocates, including Baroness Casey, was essential for her perseverance.
Inappropriate Behavior Unveiled
The hearing revealed that Hunter’s inappropriate conduct wasn’t isolated. From mid-2017 to his resignation in 2019, he engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior.
He used his position to exploit vulnerable women, with messages and actions aimed at forming sexual relationships under the guise of support.
The evidence, including over 70 pages of messages, illustrated a troubling pattern of behavior, with Hunter often isolating his victims from their support networks.
Hunter’s Disregard for Professional Standards
Despite Hunter’s attempts to defend his actions as friendly or supportive, the evidence showed otherwise.
The panel, led by Dale Simon, found that Hunter’s behavior was deliberate and premeditated, demonstrating a clear abuse of his position for sexual purposes. The misconduct hearing concluded that had Hunter still been on the force, he would have been dismissed immediately.
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