Thursday, 17 July 2025

Met Police to close half its front desks following budget cuts

 The Metropolitan Police plans to close half the front desks at its stations to save money, the BBC has learned.

The move would reduce the number of counters across London from 37 to 19, reducing places where people can walk in and speak to an officer face-to-face at their local police station.

The plan would break a pledge to have a counter staffed 24/7 in each of the capital's 32 boroughs.

A Met Police spokesperson said consultation was underway but no changes would be made until later this year, adding: "Given the Met's budget shortfall and shrinking size, it is no longer sustainable to keep all front counters open."

The Met covers all parts of London apart from the Square Mile covered by the City of London Police.

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley last month took the unusual step of warning Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that police forces would face "stark choices" about which crimes to investigate if their budgets were cut.

Concern about funding was such that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper took negotiations with Treasury to the wire, ending up as the last cabinet minister to agree her department's spending.

Labour made manifesto commitments to halve violence against women and girls as well as knife crime.

At the same time, the Met has been struggling with a widespread loss of trust in its officers, particularly among women, following the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.

There were further revelations about entrenched misogyny and racism, leading to the force attempting to rebuild trust with Londoners with a two-year plan making fresh commitments on community policing, in its A New Met for London, external strategy.

A key commitment was to have at least one 24/7 front counter in each of London's 32 boroughs to make it easier for people to report crime.

But the BBC has seen leaked plans for the Met Police that show only eight counters will remain open 24/7, and there will also be reduced hours at 11 front counters, closing at 10pm weekdays and 7pm weekends.

A Met Police spokesperson defended the plans, saying: "That's why we have taken the tough choice to pursue some closures and a reduction in hours – allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London."

The spokesperson added that 5% of crimes were reported at front counters in the last year, "with the vast majority of Londoners doing it over the phone, online, or in person with officers elsewhere".

With nearly a million crimes (948,241) reported to the Met in 2024 excluding fraud according to the latest government figures, external, that adds up to just under 50,000 crimes (47,412) reported at existing front counters.

The Home Office and the Mayor of London have been contacted for comment.


My View

There’s been a lot of talk lately about shutting down the front desks at police stations. On the surface, they’re claiming it’s due to budget cuts, but let’s be honest—this isn't about money. Not really. This is about something much deeper, and much darker.

If you’ve been following the headlines—or even better, reading the updates on our blog—you’ll see what’s really going on. Officers, some of them the very faces meant to represent law and order, are being arrested. Not just one or two bad apples—there's a pattern. A disturbing, undeniable pattern.

These aren't isolated incidents. We're talking about individuals in positions of power who have used their badges, their uniforms, and their authority to manipulate, exploit, and in some cases, outright abuse the people they were sworn to protect. It’s sick. It’s twisted. And it’s real.

They aren’t closing those front desks to save money. They're closing them to avoid scrutiny. To distance the public from direct access. Because when people start asking questions face-to-face, the truth gets harder to bury. And make no mistake—the truth is coming out.

What’s worse is how long this has been allowed to go on. Corruption doesn't grow overnight—it festers in systems that protect it, in silence that enables it, and in communities too tired or too scared to speak up. But we won’t be silent. We can’t be.

We’re watching. We’re speaking. And we’ll keep sharing the truth—because people deserve to know who’s really behind the badge.

Two framed by corrupt officer decades ago cleared

 Two men wrongly convicted in separate trials in the 1970s following allegations made by a corrupt police officer have had their names cleared by the Court of Appeal.

Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, was jailed for 18 months for theft and conspiracy to steal while Ronald De Souza, who was part of the group known as the Stockwell Six, was detained for six months for attempted robbery.

Both were convicted based on evidence given by British Transport Police (BTP) officer Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell, who was responsible for racist miscarriages of justice. So far, all 13 referred cases have been overturned.

Lord Justice Holroyde said it was with "regret" the court could not undo their suffering.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) carried out a range of investigations into the misconduct of Ridgewell, who fabricated evidence that led to convictions that lasted long after his death in prison in 1982.

Ridgewell confronted mostly young, black men and falsely accused them of theft and robbery offences, the CCRC said.

On Thursday, the Assistant Chief Constable of BTP, Charlie Doyle, said he was "disgusted" by Ridgewell's actions.

'State crime'

In April 1977, Mr Campbell was found guilty of theft and conspiracy to steal from the Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot, where he was a British Rail employee. He was sentenced to a total of 18 months' imprisonment.

Ridgewell led the case against Mr Campbell and several others, but along with colleagues Det Con Douglas Ellis and Det Con Alan Keeling, later pleaded guilty to stealing from the same goods depot. Ridgewell was jailed for seven years in 1980 after stealing more than £1m in goods.

In August 2023, the CCRC referred the convictions of Mr Campbell's co-defendants, Saliah Mehmet and Basil Peterkin, after it tracked down their family members.

Their convictions were both quashed in January 2024.

Henry Blaxland KC, representing Mr Campbell, told the court it was dealing with victims of miscarriage of justice brought about by "state crime".

He added the case "throws a shadow over the administration of justice and led to loss of confidence not only in the police, but in the legal system as a whole".

In a statement read out by his solicitor, Matt Foot, Errol Campbell Jr, the son of Errol Campbell, said: "The British Transport Police knew that Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell was corrupt, and they let him carry on regardless with what he was doing.

"My dad always said he was innocent, and today, that's finally been confirmed, almost 50 years later.

"He came to England in the Windrush generation and worked for years for British Rail. The conviction caused absolute misery to my dad and our family.

"I'm angry that Ridgewell is not alive for this day and that he never went to prison for all the people he fitted up. He never answered for his crimes."

Mr Foot added that the law should be changed so that cases overseen by police officers who were later jailed for crimes were automatically reviewed for potential miscarriages of justice.

"If that had happened, that would have saved more than 45 years of misery for the Campbell family," he said.

Mr Foot also called on BTP to name those who "harboured" Ridgewell, claiming it was "no secret" in the 1970s that the officer was "racist and corrupt".

He added that there were "bound to be others" who were victims of miscarriages of justice.

'Bore the burden'

The CCRC reviewed Mr De Souza's conviction after the convictions of his co-defendants Paul Green, Courtney Harriot, Cleveland Davidson and Texo Johnson were quashed in 2021.

The sixth member of the so-called Stockwell Six, Everet Mullins, was acquitted because it was shown that his reading ability was not good enough for him to have read and fully understood his signed statement, which was written for him by Ridgewell.

In his ruling on Thursday, Lord Justice Holroyde said that Mr De Souza, who did not attend court, "bore the burden of his wrongful conviction throughout his adult life".

"We regret this court cannot put right all that he has suffered over half a century," he said.

Ass Ch Con Charlie Doyle said BTP was "sincerely sorry" to those affected by the criminal actions of Ridgewell.

"[His] appalling actions in the 1970s and 1980s led to the criminalisation of innocent people," he said.

"I am disgusted by the actions of Derek Ridgewell, and while we know we can't change the past, his actions do not represent the BTP of today.

"We're continuing to review records relating to his corrupt practices, which includes those relating to officers who were associated with DS Ridgewell or may have assisted him in his criminal activity.

"We continue to actively pursue a criminal investigation into the actions of those involved and will present a file to the CPS for consideration once we have completed our enquiries."

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

question

Should reformed prisoners be allowed to run for public office?

It's a powerful question that touches on justice, redemption, and democracy. If someone has served their time, turned their life around, and wants to give back—should their past still hold them back from leading?


Reasons to say YES:

  • Redemption and Second Chances: If someone has truly changed, shouldn’t they be allowed to prove it by serving the public?

  • Lived Experience: Reformed individuals often understand injustice, inequality, and the criminal justice system better than most—giving them a valuable perspective in government.

  • Democratic Fairness: If they’ve paid their debt to society, why continue punishing them by restricting their rights?


Reasons to say NO:

  • Public Trust: Some believe a criminal record, no matter how old, can damage trust in elected officials.

  • Moral Standards: Others feel public office should be held to a higher standard, and past criminal behavior may conflict with that expectation.

  • Risk of Relapse: Even if someone appears reformed, there may be concerns about potential future misconduct.


We’d love to hear your thoughts—should a person’s past define their future? Or does true reform mean a clean slate?

Have your say by emailing us at: voiceforcons@gmail.com 

A Sincere Thank You to Our Viewers


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This platform was created to give a voice to the unheard—to shine a light on the stories and truths that too often get buried. And the fact that you're here, reading, sharing, and being part of that mission, shows us that we’re not alone in this fight. You give this blog life. You give us purpose.

To our regular readers, thank you for sticking with us and believing in what we do. To those who are new—welcome. We are genuinely grateful you're here. This isn’t just a blog—it’s a community. And you are a vital part of it.

We want to hear from you. If you have something to say, a story to tell, or a topic you think needs attention, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email us anytime at voiceforcons@gmail.com. Every message matters. Every voice deserves to be heard.

Please help us continue to grow and spread awareness. Share our work with your friends, your family, your community. Conversations lead to change—and change begins with awareness.

And if there’s anything you think we could be doing better, or anything you'd like us to cover, don’t hold back—your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. We're always learning, always listening, and always striving to improve.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being here with us. This space exists because of people like you.

With gratitude,
The VoiceForCons Team

Former police officer sentenced for misconduct

 A former Devon and Cornwall Police officer has been sentenced for forming an inappropriate relationship with a woman he met while on duty.

Martyn Newitt, 39, from Liskeard, Cornwall, admitted misconduct in a public office and causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to a programme data, the court heard.

He was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, suspended for 12 months, following a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

The judge also ordered Newitt to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days within the next 12 months.

The court was told Newitt had been a temporary police sergeant when he was called to attend the home of a woman following an incident involving her former partner in May 2020.

Newitt, now a married father-of-two, initially exchanged professional messages with the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, on his police phone.

He then created a social media account under the name Nick Nicholson which he used to exchange sexual messages with the woman, the court was told.

Newitt also looked up a police log regarding an allegation of rape the woman had made against a different person.

The woman made a complaint about Newitt after being stopped by officers due to an issue with her vehicle in December 2021, leading to Newitt being suspended and he resigned three years later.

'Fall from grace'

Judge Michael Cullum said: "It is always sad to see a man of good character come before the criminal courts to be sentenced, particularly when having been a serving public official and police officer that fall from grace is higher.

"The references show that you were a good officer, rising to be a sergeant.

"You threw that away when, in a period of weakness and stress in your personal life, you pursued an inappropriate relationship with a member of the public."

'I trusted him'

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman said: "I was scared, isolated and vulnerable.

"Martyn arrived in uniform to help and I trusted him. He was supposed to protect us. Instead, he embedded himself in my life and became Nick.

"I am grieving a man that never existed. Nick wasn't just his name. It was his carefully crafted persona."

Newitt said he had been in a "very difficult place" at the time.

"Up until that point, my record as a police officer was untarnished," he said.

"I have let the public down by putting myself in this position.

"I am eternally sorry for that."

My view

EXACTLY what I’ve been saying for years. This is the perfect example of how the so-called justice system protects its own. A former police officer gets done for misconduct—serious stuff, not just a slap on the wrist kind of offense—and what happens? A suspended sentence. No jail time. No real consequences. Just a legal pat on the back and sent on their way. It's beyond maddening.

Why is it always like this when it's someone in uniform? If it were me—or you—or any regular person off the street—we’d be inside before we could even blink. But if you’ve worn a badge? Suddenly you get “understanding” from the courts. You get sympathy. You get second chances. It’s disgusting. There’s one justice system for them and a completely different, unforgiving one for the rest of us. That double standard isn't just frustrating—it's dangerous.

What kind of message does this send? That if you’ve served as a cop, you can break the law and still walk free? That misconduct, abuse of power, and betrayal of public trust are somehow less serious when it's done by someone who took an oath to uphold the law? It makes me sick.

People are losing faith. Completely. Why should we trust the police? Why should we believe in the courts? This isn’t justice—it’s a performance. It's a rigged game where those on the inside look after each other, and the rest of us are left shouting into the void, unheard, unseen.

It genuinely pisses me off. I’m tired of watching these stories pop up again and again, always ending the same way. Officer commits a crime. Gets a slap on the wrist. Walks free. Nothing changes. Nothing improves. Victims get silence, and the public gets lies.

This system is broken. It’s been broken for a long time. And every time a uniformed abuser gets off lightly, another crack forms in whatever is left of public trust. We deserve better. Victims deserve better. And if you ask me, the people in power know damn well what they’re doing—they just don’t care.

Enough is enough.

Disgraced officer found guilty of misconduct

A former police officer, previously convicted of making indecent images of children, has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

A hearing into the actions of former Wiltshire Police officer Callum Denley took place on Monday and found that he would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned.

It was found that Denley had breached the standards of Professional Behaviour for police officers relating to Honesty and Integrity and Discreditable Conduct.

Denley, 20, received a suspended prison sentence in May for five counts including the making of indecent images of children and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

He also pleaded guilty to being in possession of a prohibited image of a child.

Denley resigned from the force on 18 March – the day he was charged and has been placed on the national barred list, preventing him from working in policing in the future.

'Abhorrent behaviour'

Deputy Ch Cons Mark Cooper said that Denley's "abhorrent" behaviour "could not be further removed from what a police officer should be".

"As a member of our police service, Denley was in a position of trust, with a responsibility to protect the public from harm," he added.

"He has completely undermined that trust and his actions have the potential to damage the trust and confidence that the public should be able to have in their police service.

"Police officers must ensure that their behaviour is always of an impeccable character and this case is clearly far from that."

Prison officer and mother sentenced for disclosing sensitive information to a prisoner


A prison officer and her mother have been sentenced for disclosing sensitive information to a prisoner.

The convictions follow an investigation by officers from the Prison Intelligence Team in the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) in partnership with HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) Counter Corruption Unit.

At Guildford Crown Court on Monday (7/7), Zoe Davie, aged 33, of Middlepark Way, Havant, was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for misconduct in a public office.

Tracie Davie, aged 58, of Gaskell Mews, Newbury, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, for assisting the commission of the offence.

At a hearing on 10 March 2025, the pair pleaded guilty to the above offences.

In October 2022, Zoe Davie was a serving prison officer attached to a specialist search team within HMPPS. Her brother was in custody at HMP Coldingley, serving a five years' and one month sentence for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Zoe Davie disclosed sensitive information concerning a forthcoming search scheduled to take place at HMP Coldingley to Tracie Davie, her mother, who subsequently passed that information onto Zoe’s brother.

Evidence was discovered on recorded prison phone calls between Zoe’s brother and her mother, as well as WhatsApp messages exchanged between Zoe and Tracie Davie.

Zoe and Tracie Davie were charged on 18 October 2024.

Head of SEROCU, Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Boniface, said:

“The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit remain committed to working closely with HMPPS Counter Corruption Unit to expose and prosecute the minority of prison staff who breach the professional standards expected of those in positions of public trust.

“Zoe Davie’s actions fell short of those standards, compromising the safety of her colleagues by disclosing sensitive operational intelligence.

“This behaviour not only undermined public trust, but also disrupted the operational integrity of HMPPS, all while she was serving as a prison officer.

“I hope this outcome reinforces the message that accountability applies to all regardless of personal ties – those who abuse their position will be held to account.”


"Ex-Met policeman a 'liar', rape trial hears"

 A man accused of raping two women when he was a serving Metropolitan Police officer is a "liar" who lives in his own world, a prosecutor has told a trial.

Barrister James Thacker KC told jurors that they could not believe anything Jake Cummings said.

Cummings, 26, who lived in Lytton Way in Stevenage, denies rape and says sex was consensual.

A barrister representing the defendant told the jury at St Albans Crown Court they could not be sure he had not thought the women consented.

The trial heard Cummings, who has also lived in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, had been in relationships with both women.

One woman says she was raped while she was seeing the defendant; the other says she was raped shortly after a relationship ended.

Cummings told detectives that neither woman had said "no".

The jury has been told that Cummings had already been convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour and stalking, during his relationships with the women, following an earlier trial.

'Accepted manipulator'

"Jake Cummings lives in the Jake Cummings' world, compared to normality," Mr Thacker told the jury, when summarising the prosecution case.

"How can you accept anything that is liar says?

"And the answer is, you just cannot."

Mr Thacker said Cummings was an "accepted manipulator",

Defence barrister Campaspe Lloyd-Jacob argued that jurors "cannot be sure" that his client was guilty.

"The question is whether you are sure that Jake could not reasonably have believed that [they were] consenting," she said.

My view

I bet you anything—because he's a former Met copper—they'll go easy on him. Probably some watered-down sentence, a few years at best, out in half with "good behavior". That’s how the game is played when you wear the badge. One rule for them, another for the rest of us. It's infuriating. Absolutely sickening.

This man—this monster—wore a uniform meant to represent protection, justice, and public service. And he used it as a mask. A sick, twisted little bastard who wore power like a weapon and used it to exploit and hurt others. He thought the badge would shield him. That it gave him the right to do whatever he wanted, without consequence. And for far too long, it probably did.

I’ve been in and around the system for 35 years, and I still can’t wrap my head around how broken it truly is. I've seen the cracks. I've seen the corruption. But every time I think I’ve seen the worst of it, something like this happens, and it digs the knife in deeper. The justice system is rotten. Outdated. Hollowed out from within. It’s like watching a house of cards being held up with chewing gum and blind hope.

We tell victims to go to the police. We tell them to speak up, to come forward, to trust the system. But how can they? How can anyone trust a system that lets predators like this in the front door and gives them a badge? How can someone be expected to believe in justice when justice clearly plays favorites?

It makes my blood boil. Every time one of these stories breaks, it chips away at whatever little faith people have left in the police. You can't blame them. When officers—men who are supposed to stand for something—use their position to commit horrific crimes, it poisons everything. It makes people afraid to speak out. It silences the vulnerable. It empowers the abusers.

Disgust doesn’t even begin to cover it. There’s something deeply wrong at the core of our policing and legal systems. And until people like him are held fully, publicly, and painfully accountable—not protected by their old titles or their old pals—nothing is going to change.

To every survivor out there: I see you. I hear you. You deserve better than this. You deserve a system that actually works for you—not one that protects the monsters because they once wore a uniform.

This isn’t justice. This is a joke. And no one's laughing.

Monday, 7 July 2025

Former Met Police officer sentenced for voyeurism

 A former Metropolitan Police officer from Surrey will stay on the sex offenders register for life after admitting voyeurism and creating indecent images of a child.

Lee Hargrave, 49, of Egham, had installed a camera in a child's bedroom and bathroom, creating indecent images and footage.

Hargrave, who resigned last year, was charged following an investigation in 2023 relating to the victim, who was aged between 12 and 15 at the time.

At Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday, he was given a 13-month prison sentence for voyeurism alongside three months for the indecent images. Both sentences have been suspended for two years.

Hargrave, who pleaded guilty to two counts each of voyeurism and of making indecent images of a child, was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Furthermore, he is subject to an indefinite restraining order against the victim and her family.

Hargrave was originally charged with six offences but the CPS confirmed that no evidence was offered in respect of two of these.

An accelerated misconduct hearing found the former officer, who resigned from the Met Police in August 2024, would have been dismissed without notice had he still been a serving officer.

Sunday, 6 July 2025

Chief Inspector of Prisons sees green shoots at troubled Parc

 There have been some “green shoots” of improvement seen at troubled Parc prison, according to Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor.

He told the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee that the new Director at the jail has “a little bit more of a grip”.

In April, Mr Taylor had published a report saying the situation at Parc was “enormously disappointing”. This, along with reports of a high number of deaths in custody at the facility, and outbreaks of disturbances, led the Committee to reopen an enquiry that had been halted by the General Election.

The Chief Inspector’s April report had said Parc, in south Wales, was failing to tackle an “alarming” quantity of drugs that had led to a “spate” of deaths, but he told MPs that a new boss had provided “a little bit more grip” although there was still “a long way to go”.

The April report, which followed an unannounced inspection of Parc in January, said drugs were “pouring into the prison”, with deliveries often by drone. Seventeen inmates are known to have died at Parc in 2024, more than any other UK prison. Of the 17 deaths, G4S, which runs the prison, confirmed that eight inmates had died from natural causes, and five deaths were believed to be drugs-related. Drugs were found on 900 occasions in 2024, and G4S said it had invested significant resources to tackle drugs in the prison, including the provision of more patrol dogs and detection equipment.

Parc had previously been judged as one of the most successful prisons, and Mr Taylor had described the January inspection as “enormously disappointing”.

Addressing the Welsh Affairs Committee at Westminster, Mr Taylor said the recent deaths had “an absolute catastrophic effect” on “the pride and that real sense of community” of both staff and inmates. However, he said, although the April report was very critical, there “were some positives there”.

He told MPs: “There was a little bit more grip by a new director who had been appointed. The number of deaths had diminished since that shocking high that there had been earlier last year.

“The regime wasn’t nearly good enough, but there were some reasonably credible plans to get prisoners out and about and doing some of the things that in the past we commented on reasonably positively.

“There was a sense amongst the leadership team and also amongst officers, that morale was beginning to improve. So there were some green shoots.”

However he warned: “I wouldn’t want to give you a false assurance on that. “We will be back at Parc within the year, and we’ll want to see that those improvements that we’ve begun to see have been sustained – but there is a long way to go.”

Following the April report, G4S had said “significant improvements” were being made.

my view:

If you can remember, I raised this issue some time ago—and sadly, it’s still as urgent and alarming as ever. Prisoners being locked down for 23 hours a day due to severe staff shortages is nothing short of a crisis. This isn’t just about inconvenience or discomfort; it’s about basic human rights and the safety of everyone involved—both inmates and staff. When prisoners are confined to their cells for nearly the entire day, it creates a powder keg of tension and frustration. The government needs to take a firm stance and refuse HMP Parc permission to build any new wings until there are enough trained, capable staff to keep all the existing wings properly open and running on green status.

What’s happening now is a ticking time bomb that’s only going to make things worse. Prolonged lockdowns and understaffing don’t just breed resentment—they fuel violence, abuse, drug use, and even the smuggling of drones, which has become a horrifying new challenge. When prisoners have no meaningful activity or supervision, the atmosphere becomes toxic, and criminal networks inside the prison grow stronger, unchecked. This isn’t just speculation—it’s a clear and present danger that everyone in charge seems to be ignoring.

HMP Parc needs to get itself in gear, and fast. Before they even think about expanding or adding new wings, they must prove they can manage what they already have responsibly and safely. Staff shortages are unacceptable in an institution where control and security are paramount. The government and prison management owe it to the public, the staff, and the prisoners themselves to fix these problems now—before it spirals further out of control. Expansion without stability is a recipe for disaster, and no one will benefit from that except those who profit from chaos.

Prison officer Matthew Powell from Warden avoids jail after sexually assaulting two women

 A senior prison officer who sexually assaulted two women has avoided a jail sentence but left one of his victims “living in constant fear”.

Matthew Powell, who worked at HMP Swaleside in Eastchurch, was accused of touching the women without their consent on two separate occasions.

A senior prison officer who sexually assaulted two women has avoided a jail sentence but left one of his victims “living in constant fear”.

Matthew Powell, who worked at HMP Swaleside in Eastchurch, was accused of touching the women without their consent on two separate occasions.

However, on the first day of the hearing, he changed his plea to guilty.

He was handed a four-month prison sentence which was suspended for two years when he appeared at the same court in April.

Speaking since the sentencing, one of his victims, who did not want to be named, said: “Matthew Powell embarrassed me, intimidated me and touched me inappropriately for his own sexual gain.

“I did not initiate this, nor give him any reason to believe that this was something I wanted.

“I have been diagnosed with PTSD following historical sexual abuse.

“Matthew Powell’s actions triggered the PTSD and a huge decline in my mental health.

“This left me with severe anxiety and flashbacks of not only the sexual assault from him, but the abuse that I suffered in the past.

“I had worked hard with a therapist to minimise my flashbacks and the effects the previous trauma had on me.”

She added: “This has been emotionally and mentally draining for me and has again had a huge impact on my mental health, relationships, and work life.”

Powell was placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

A prison service spokesman said: “Matthew Powell has rightly faced justice for his despicable offences.

“We do not tolerate misconduct of any kind and where officers fall below our high standards, we do not hesitate to take robust action.

“An independent unit is being set up to address bullying and misconduct across the service, marking major reform to raise professional standards and protect staff.”

my view

I genuinely cannot believe what I’ve just read. Suspended for two years? For a crime as serious and devastating as sexual assault? What on earth is this justice system doing? It feels like a complete betrayal of the victims, of public trust, and of basic human decency. How can someone commit such a vile act—especially while in a position of power and responsibility—and walk away with nothing more than a suspended sentence? It's absolutely sickening. There seems to be more concern for the future of the offender than for the trauma and long-lasting impact inflicted on the victim. Where is the accountability? Where is the justice?

It makes me so angry and disheartened to see how people who are meant to protect, lead, or serve us can turn into predators—and somehow still find loopholes, sympathy, or leniency in a system that should be built to protect the vulnerable. This isn’t just a failure of one case—it’s a pattern, a disgraceful one. Every time someone in authority abuses their position and faces little to no real consequence, it sends a dangerous message: that power can shield you from responsibility, that victims will not be heard, and that justice is conditional. This is not the kind of society we should accept.

Honestly, I wish I were Prime Minister—because if I had the power, I would overhaul this broken system in a heartbeat. I would ensure that predators, especially those hiding behind uniforms, titles, or trusted roles, face the full weight of the law. No suspended sentences. No leniency. Just real justice for victims who carry scars for life. This country deserves better. Women deserve to feel safe. And people who use their authority to harm others deserve to lose everything—not walk away with a slap on the wrist and a second chance they never gave their victims.