A misconduct panel has found that a serving Northumbria Police detective committed gross misconduct after being found to have made derogatory comments about men and transgender women while working in a safeguarding role.
Hearing and findings
The hearing, which took place at Houghton-le-Spring police station, heard allegations that Detective Constable Rachel Fletcher had said that "all men" were rapists and that men should be subject to a 9pm curfew to prevent sexual attacks. The panel concluded those comments, together with other remarks, breached multiple Standards of Professional Behaviour.
"all men are rapists"
Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Hill, chairing the panel, assessed each proven allegation as amounting to gross misconduct. The breaches related to the standards on Discreditable Conduct, Authority, Respect and Courtesy, and Equality and Diversity.
Witness evidence and defender's account
Colleagues gave evidence that included claims DC Fletcher had expressed hatred of men in the workplace. One witness, PC Kevin Thompson, said she would openly state she hated men. Detective Constable Tina Brown told the hearing she had previously heard Fletcher assert that "all men are rapists" and had challenged her on that remark. Detective Sergeant Damon Hall also gave evidence to the panel.
In her own account at the hearing, DC Fletcher denied making blanket statements of hatred towards men. She said she hated male violence and described some of the cases handled by the protection unit as "abhorrent". She told the panel she had been labelled a man-hater for calling out misogyny and characterised some workplace responses as equating critique of misogyny with hatred of men.
Next steps and disciplinary action
Having found the remarks proven, the panel must now determine what disciplinary sanction will follow. The finding of gross misconduct opens the door to a range of potential outcomes, which can include dismissal, a final written warning, or other measures consistent with police disciplinary procedures.
- Allegation: Statement that "all men" were rapists
- Allegation: Proposal of a 9pm curfew for men to prevent sex attacks
- Allegation: Derogatory description of transgender women
| Proven conduct | Standards breached |
|---|---|
| Derogatory comments about men and transgender women | Discreditable Conduct; Equality and Diversity |
| Calls for a curfew on men | Authority, Respect and Courtesy |
The case has highlighted tensions within policing around how officers express views about victims, perpetrators and protected characteristics, particularly for staff working in safeguarding roles. The panel's decision reflects the expectation that those in positions of public trust must adhere to standards designed to maintain public confidence and equal treatment.
A final disciplinary outcome will be issued once the panel determines appropriate sanctions.
