A police force alleged to have promoted and protected male officers despite knowing they were accused of attacking women has formally apologised and paid compensation to nine female victims, the Guardian has learned.
The women allege they were subjected to a range of abuse including rape, assault, threats, harassment and coercive control while in relationships with male officers from Devon and Cornwall police.
Some of the officers served in positions protecting women from male violence, with one appointed after allegations were made, and another kept in the sensitive position after the force received accusations.
The women allege that the force in south-west England “covered up” the serious crimes, which it denies. The force has vowed to improve how it protects women from police-perpetrated domestic abuse.
Some women suffered for about ۱۵ years, with their tormentors allegedly weaponising the force’s “reputation” for protecting male police abusers to break their victim’s will to seek justice.
The nine women, some of whom served in Devon and Cornwall police, say their claims were mocked or disbelieved and investigations were bungled. Three of the women were arrested after accusations from their alleged abusers. One, a teacher, was cautioned, which was eventually erased from her criminal record.
One senior source who served in the leadership of the force told the Guardian: “At best it was bad investigations, at worst it was collusion with the attackers.”
The women say at least four of the officers who abused them are still serving. The force refused to answer that question. Four of the women served in the force but have now left.
One of the male officers is accused of abusing and threatening his partner, who was then a serving police officer. The woman said: “I had my baby … in my arms. My other child was screaming as he rained punches on any area of my body he could get at. He cornered me in a room and repeatedly kicked me as he stood over me. I was terrified and was begging him to stop.”
It is alleged the male officer was promoted twice after the force received the allegations, and was appointed to a leadership position in the force’s effort to tackle violence against women and girls.
Starting in ۲۰۰۴, the woman complained to police for more than ۱۴ years, and she says nothing was done.
Devon and Cornwall police has agreed to pay compensation to all nine women who sued, and the chief constable, James Vaughan, has personally apologised for the failings, the force said.
Police settled the women’s claim without admitting liability after a two-year legal battle.
Another of the accused male officers was known by colleagues as “Teflon” because nothing stuck to him despite repeated allegations, and known also as “rapey”, and was allegedly promoted.
His former partner Sarah* told the Guardian the officer pursued a prolonged, deliberate and sustained campaign of abusive, controlling and coercive behaviour over ۱۵ years. It included physical abuse, financial abuse, intimidation, manipulation of childcare arrangements and repeated harassment, intended to undermine, distress and exert control.
Another woman, June*, a teacher, said of the officer with whom she had children: “Threats he’d made against me had been routinely dismissed, belittled and ignored. [He said] ‘you’ll lose your house, your job and the kids. Don’t make me angry, I’m about to load a gun.’
“I will never under any circumstances cooperate with the police again. I have lost all faith in their willingness … to protect women from police-perpetrated domestic violence. He knows he has the full protection of the police.”
Another, Freya*, said: “Absolutely it was a cover-up. The police harboured him until his retirement. I got called a liar by officers online.”
While a minority of male officers allegedly abused their female partners, other male and female officers tried to help the women but still the force failed to act, according to the combined testimony from the women.
The scandal comes after repeated promises by policing nationally to prosecute male officers who abuse women. Some of the women who received compensation and an apology say the reality was, and still is, different.
Paula Kressinger, who served in the force for ۳۰ years and has waived her anonymity, criticised the force’s refusal to admit liability. She said: “The police are always trying to cover up their mistakes … trying to protect their reputation. However, I believe we would have more respect and trust in them if they were to … take responsibility for their failings. I know they continue to fail victims of crime.”
Sasha* said: “The police did cover up. Devon and Cornwall promoted my ex-partner … while the abuse continued. This gave a ticket to my abuser to continue his abuse post-separation.”
The inaction by the force spurred on abusers, Sasha said. “During the course of the investigation my ex-partner said everyone in the police laughed at me, and the behaviour by the investigating officers made this seem to be a true statement. The continued disrespect and disregard by Devon and Cornwall police collectively became death by a thousand cuts.
“I cannot express enough how much myself and my children have suffered over a period of ۱۵ years, and to then be totally let down by the police …”
The Devon and Cornwall force was placed into special measures a fortnight ago because of overall poor performance. The force declined to answer a series of questions from the Guardian.
Asked what exactly the apology was for, the force replied that the chief constable met with the women in March ۲۰۲۶ and “apologised for the conduct of Devon and Cornwall police in its investigations of their reports of police-perpetrated domestic abuse”.
Asked whether the nine women were regarded by the force as victims of a crime, it said: “In general terms, any allegations of criminal conduct or misconduct are considered through the appropriate investigative and legal processes. These are recorded and assessed and, where appropriate, subject to criminal and/or misconduct investigation.”
The force also said: “No evidence has been identified to suggest that this was, in whole or in part, the result of a cover-up or misogyny.”
It said none of the accused male officers were any longer in positions to do with protecting women from male violence.
The legal case was brought by the Centre for Women’s Justice, a small charity.
Debaleena Dasgupta, a solicitor for the women, praised their determination and courage and said: “Litigation should never have been necessary. Each of these nine women repeatedly tried to have their reports properly investigated but instead faced errors, indifference and incompetence at every turn. Some even faced contempt.
“The similarities in the failures … indicate a broken system. And none of the safeguards one might expect to pick this up did. There have been endless reviews, inquiries and recommendations, and yet litigation remained my clients’ only option.”
The force said: “Our processes have changed. All police-perpetrated domestic abuse will now be investigated by the force’s professional standards department. We are currently in the process of creating a bespoke advocate role for victims of police-perpetrated domestic abuse and similar offences to ensure their voices are heard and that they are provided with a gold-standard service.”
* Names have been changed.
