Officer who tied up woman among dozens facing sack

Wave of disciplinary cases come as Met Police boss says two or three officers every week will be in criminal courts

- LIZZIE DEARDEN

Britain's policing crisis has deepened as The Independent can reveal an officer who downloaded indecent images of children and another who tied a woman up and cut her with a knife are among dozens facing the sack.

At least 39 officers are to face misconduct hearings across England and Wales over the coming weeks, including 23 from the Metropolitan Police alone. Among the worst offenders from across the country are:

• Officer downloaded images of victims in voyeurism cases 

• Dozens face sack for drugs, sexism, and racism charges 

• A sergeant who used his position to strike up a relationship with a domestic violence victim

Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has revealed that he expected "two or three officers going to court" for separate criminal cases every week for the next few months, with many facing accusations of sexual offences and domestic abuse.

He admitted that Britain's largest force had more than "just a few bad apples" and warned that "more painful stories" would be unearthed as Scotland Yard intensifies efforts to find and sack unsuitable officers.

In the latest case, a Safer Schools officer admitted a string of child sex offences including grooming teenage girls.

PC Hussain Chehab appeared in court just days after serial rapist David Carrick pleaded guilty to 49 offences, including 24 rapes, against 12 women dating back to 2003.

Following Carrick's admissions, a Met Police trawl uncovered more than 1,000 officers and staff who had been allowed to remain in the force after allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse.

Sir Mark told the London Assembly that some allegations were found to have been resolved, some people are being re-vetted and some new investigations were just beginning.