Latest news with #women's safety
The Sun
20-06-2025
- The Sun
Cop who called Des O'Connor's daughter ‘amazingly hot' while investigating mugging should've been sacked, panel rules
A "PREDATORY" Met cop who called Des O'Connor's daughter "amazingly hot" while investigating a mugging should have been sacked, a panel found. Kristina O'Connor was sent a string of messages by James Mason after he responded to the attempted robbery. 3 The detective branded her "amazingly hot" and asked her out to dinner while taking her statement. A misconduct panel found Mason "deliberately and repeatedly abused his position for a sexual purpose" and that his actions amounted to gross misconduct. He was handed a final written warning but later returned to work alongside former Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick after the panel found sacking him would be "disproportionately harsh". Mason later resigned from the force in November 2022 but a fresh tribunal today found he should have been sacked. Delivering the panel's findings, Christopher McKay said: "In the panel's judgment, the most significant actual and potential harm was to the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service. "Women and girls should feel confident that they are treated with courtesy and understanding if they attend a police station to make a complaint." Kristina, 37, cried as the decision was handed down today. She later said in a statement: "My experience has taught me that the police cannot be trusted with women's safety. "I was abused by a police officer who should have been helping me. "Since reporting his behaviour I have seen first-hand how the police were more interested in protecting themselves than helping me find justice, or protecting other women. "I have spent many years questioning whether the policing system can be fixed, and have come to the conclusion that if we are serious about women's safety, it needs replacing entirely. "I believe we need to abolish the police and establish an entirely new public service that actually protects and cares for women and communities." Kristina took the force to the High Court in 2023 where her lawyer argued they "failed to properly investigate" the complaint. But she was delivered a blow when a top judge rejected her appeal against the police and misconduct panel decisions. Kristina, whose comic dad Des passed away in 2020, had called police when she was attacked by a gang who attempted to steal her phone in London back in 2011. She was interviewed by Mason, and says he asked "invasive" questions with "sexual overtones". In one message, he said: "If you ever fancy having a drink with a very discreet police officer, just let me know, it would be my pleasure. "If you have any visible injuries that you would like me to record then I am happy to take a picture for you and save it in case we manage to get any further in the investigation. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much and I am sure you still look amazingly hot.' In a Met misconduct hearing in 2021, Mason was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour on eight counts. Despite this, he was issued with only a final written warning and was allowed to keep his rank. Detective Superintendent Neil Smithson, Professional Standards, said: 'The Met took the allegations against DCI James Mason seriously and conducted an investigation that led to a misconduct hearing. "The hearing panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, made the decision not to dismiss him and the Met Police has in no way sought to justify that decision. 'Former DCI Mason's behaviour was wholly unacceptable. A victim of crime is already likely to feel vulnerable, they should never be made to feel worse by the actions of a police officer. I hope the victim in this case takes some comfort from the outcome of the fresh hearing. 'The Commissioner has made it very clear that officers who abuse their position of trust and authority have no place in the Met. We continue our ongoing drive to improve our standards and culture.' 3 3
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Des O'Connor's daughter says police 'cannot be trusted with women's safety' after decision not to sack officer who called her 'amazingly hot' and sexually harassed her while investigating her mugging
The daughter of Des O'Connor said police 'cannot be trusted with women's safety' after a police officer was not sacked for calling her 'amazingly hot' and sexually harassing her while investigating her mugging. Former Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector James Mason was given a final written warning by the panel in October 2021 for calling Kristina O'Connor, 37, his 'favourite Camden victim of crime ' and asking her out after she was injured in an attempted robbery in October 2011. A police misconduct panel previously found that Mr Mason, 47, used his authority to sexually harass her and that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, but ruled that it would have been 'disproportionately harsh' to sack him or reduce his rank. Mr Mason subsequently resigned from the force in 2022. The same panel reconvened on Thursday at Sutton police station to hear legal representations. In 2011, after being bruised and given a black eye during an attempted robbery, Ms O'Connor reported the attack and was taken to Kentish Town police station, a court heard. While taking down her statement, Mr Mason, then a detective sergeant, asked if he could take her out for dinner that evening. He then emailed her the next day asking her out for a drink and told her that despite her injuries: 'I am sure you still looking amazingly hot.' When she asked him to stop, Mr Mason wrote: 'Coming on to victims is positively encouraged, it's all part of the friendly and accessible face of the Met Police. It's the rejection that is frowned upon.' Ms O'Connor, who was 24 at the time of the incident, was unsuccessful in a 2023 High Court legal challenge against the panel's decision after alleging Mr Mason's actions were 'predatory and abusive', and the police had 'failed to properly investigate' a complaint. She appealed against the High Court ruling at a hearing in December last year, with the Court of Appeal ruling in January that the panel should reconsider its decision. Ms O'Connor, whose late father was a comedian, singer and television presenter, said she wanted to 'encourage women to continue to speak out, if they feel able to'. In a statement issued by Bindmans law firm, Ms O'Connor said: 'Regardless of the panel's decision, my experience has taught me that the police cannot be trusted with women's safety. 'I was abused by a police officer who should have been helping me. Since reporting his behaviour I have seen first-hand how the police were more interested in protecting themselves than helping me find justice, or protecting other women. 'I have spent many years questioning whether the policing system can be fixed and have come to the conclusion that if we are serious about women's safety, it needs replacing entirely.' David Messling, representing the Metropolitan Police at Thursday's hearing, said Mr Mason's conduct harmed 'public trust in policing'. Mr Messling told the panel: 'It was conduct that continued despite the victim challenging it and the officer indicating that he was fully aware the conduct was improper. 'This was an example of a police officer who was looking to take sexual advantage, by means of his position, of a vulnerable victim of crime. 'It goes to the heart of public trust and confidence in the police. We all understand the need to be on guard against crime, but victims of crime should not have to be on their guard against police officers.' Mitigating for Mr Mason, Ailsa Williamson said his conduct was 'not planned' and was 'limited to a period of two successive days'. Ms Williamson told the panel: 'While Mr Mason did not intend any harm to Ms O'Connor, he should have anticipated his attempts to pursue her could have impacted her trust in police officers. 'The harassment does not involve any physical contact and does not persist beyond those two days.' Discussing Mr Mason, Ms Williamson added: 'From the outset he's always accepted that his actions were inappropriate and unprofessional, and he continues to offer his unreserved apology to Ms O'Connor. 'He deeply recognises and regrets the harm caused to Ms O'Connor, the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service and to those closest to him affected by these proceedings.' Ms O'Connor made a complaint against the Metropolitan Police in 2020 after a Facebook memory showed her the original emails, before taking legal action against the panel's decision. Nancy Collins, who is representing Ms O'Connor, said: 'Kristina has been extraordinarily brave in her tireless pursuit for justice. 'She chose to waive her anonymity and fight to challenge the outcome of a complaints process that failed to reflect the gravity of the experience she suffered through the serious misconduct of an officer in whom she had placed her trust. 'She has exposed the failures of the system. It is imperative that those who abuse positions of power are properly held to account and that the gravity of their actions is accurately reflected in any penalty awarded.'
