An officer told his girlfriend the authorities would not believe her when she accused him of domestic abuse because he was “in the police”.
Daniel Smith retired from the Met Police the day before his misconduct hearing but it was found that, if he were still serving, he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct.
The former police constable (FPC), who is from the Tonbridge and Malling area, was accused of being controlling and coercive in his relationship with a woman, known as Miss A.
This included allegedly banning her from attending events unless with him or her brother, from seeing friends and family, from staying overnight elsewhere, and making her prove her whereabouts.
The misconduct hearing, chaired by Commander Jason Prins at the end of April, heard FPC Smith rejected the suggestion he sought to “manipulate or control” his partner and denied that he breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct.
Giving evidence, Miss A said that FPC Smith would “accuse her of being unfaithful” if she went out alone, so she often cancelled plans at the last minute, and “would constantly check where she was”.
Miss A added: “In the past, when I have threatened to report him to the police, he would say ‘they are not going to believe you over me, I’m in the police’, and he would say ‘if you leave me, I will take the kids’.”
“They are not going to believe you over me; I’m in the police…”
FPC Smith, who did not attend the hearing but was represented by his Police Federation Representative, DC Nick Davidson, said he would occasionally ask where she was, but that it “was not unreasonable in the circumstances”.
He added: “The officer accepts that there were challenges, tensions and disputes within the relationship, but utterly rejects the suggestion that he sought to manipulate or control Miss A as alleged.
“Any such relationship will contain gripes and bugbears, which it is preposterous to elevate to the level of a criminal offence.”
However, the panel believed that the evidence provided by Miss A proved the allegation that FPC Smith was controlling and coercive during their relationship.
The hearing also heard that the 53-year-old broke bail conditions imposed after their relationship ended, which meant he could not contact Miss A directly or indirectly unless through a third party about child contact.
The panel concluded that FPC Smith, who joined the London force in 1998, did breach the standards and “clearly amounted to gross misconduct”.
The report added that the proven allegations were “akin to the criminal offence of coercive and controlling behaviour”, and had caused Miss A “significant and lasting emotional harm”.
It added: “His actions were deliberate, targeted and criminal in nature.
“There is no place in the police service for officers who abuse their partners through coercive and controlling behaviour.”
It concluded that if FPC Smith was still serving, he would have been dismissed without notice. He will also be placed on the barred list.
Speaking to KentOnline following the publication of the report, Miss A explained how she found it difficult to voice her complaints as FPC Smith was a police officer.
She said: “I thought that behaviour was normal and allowed because he was a police officer. It was not until I told people that they said that it was not normal.
“It was really difficult because who do I go to? He is the police. Who was going to believe me because he was a police officer?
“People need to know it does not matter who the person is; go to the police and tell people because you will be believed.
“It was really difficult because who do I go to? He is the police…”
“When you have someone who is in a position of power, you think no one will help, but you can get help.”
Last year, new vetting measures were introduced in parliament as part of the government’s plans to improve confidence in policing.
It means it will now be a legal requirement for all serving officers to pass a background check and create a process to dismiss staff who do not meet the set standards.
Chief executive of Tonbridge-based charity, Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services (DAVSS), Gay Larter, said: “Without commenting on any individual case, domestic abuse is fundamentally about power and control.
“When a perpetrator holds a position of authority or trust, this can create additional barriers for victims seeking help, particularly if they fear they will not be believed.
“At DAVSS, we want anyone experiencing domestic abuse to know that support is available and that they will be listened to.
“Abuse can be perpetrated by people from all professions and backgrounds, and no one should feel unable to seek help because of the position, status or influence of the person causing them harm.
“We commend the courage of survivors who speak out and help others understand that they are not alone.
“By sharing their experiences, survivors can help break down stigma, encourage others to seek support, and remind those living with abuse that help is available.”
