Cleveland Police Admit Failings Over Sex Crime PC

20 August 2015, 09:14 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A report's criticised Cleveland police for not doing enough before PC Wayne Scott was convicted of sex crimes.

Scott joined the force in August 2002, and served in uniform postings in both Hartlepool and Stockton.

In December 2013 he was convicted of ten rapes, two offences of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one offence of sexual touching and two offences of common assault.

He was jailed for 15 years.

A report was examining if more could have been done to prevent his offending or catch him sooner.

The reports reveals a lot of suspect behaviour wasn't acted on.

This included alleged sexual and physical assaults, getting love letters from ten year old girls, cuddles and taking them for ice-cream and inappropriate sexual language in front of colleagues.

The report make a number of recommendations.

Commissioning a piece of work to assess whether female members of staff are being subjected to unacceptable language, attitudes or behaviour and whether they feel confident to report this behaviour.

Conducting computer audits on those officers identified as checking vulnerable females with a particular focus on female shop-lifters, sex workers and victims of domestic abuse.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Spittal said;

"I want to sincerely apologise to everyone who has been affected by the actions of Wayne Scott whilst he was a serving officer with Cleveland Police.

"It is right that the public expect and are able to trust that our police officers and staff will keep them safe from harm and protect them."

"Police officers are not above the law, if they are found to have acted unprofessionally, unethically, or criminally - they will be treated the same as a member of the public"

"We continue to endeavour to do the right thing, but this is an example of where we didn't get it right."

"We have taken these findings and have learnt from our mistakes and we have endeavoured and succeeded to bring this man to justice, I hope this gives some small comfort to the victims of Wayne Scott."