Metropolitan Police agree payout and formal apology to victim of domestic abuse harassed by police officer tasked with helping her

In April 2020, our client went to the Metropolitan Police for help as a victim of domestic abuse from her then-partner. The Metropolitan Police tasked former PC Bashar with the criminal investigation.

Unknown to our client, former PC Bashar had already been the subject of 2018 IOPC investigation for contacting a victim of crime using his personal phone. He received “knowing the line” training in April 2020: just as he started his campaign of harassment against our client.

Former PC Bashar sent unwanted and inappropriate text messages and made late-night phone calls from his personal number to our client for 7 months. He employed tactics which our client had informed him were used by her ex-partner to coerce and manipulate her.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (‘IOPC’) recommended that former PC Bashar face an accelerated misconduct hearing for gross misconduct. Former PC Bashar refused to attend the misconduct hearing in November 2023 which found that he was guilty of discreditable conduct at the level of gross misconduct: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/former-met-officer-put-barred-list-sending-inappropriate-messages-crime-victim.

Former PC Bashar (who was already retired) was barred from ever serving as a police officer again. 

Almost 4 years after former PC Bashar stopped harassing our client, the Metropolitan Police have agreed to pay her £17,000 for the impact it has had on her. 

In a formal letter of apology, the Metropolitan Police sought to reassure our client that it is working with vetting specialists to develop screening for roles that have a particular proximity to vulnerable people.

This client was represented by Emma Gilbert and Daniel Cooper in the Actions Against the Police Department.