Former head of Scotland Yard accused of dismissing rape complaints as ... trends now
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The former head of Scotland Yard will not face a disciplinary hearing following claims that he dismissed rape complaints as 'regretful sex'.
Sir Stephen House, who served as acting Met Commissioner in 2022, was accused by a Home Office adviser of describing the bulk of rape complaints as being the result of 'regretful sex'.
But the officer strongly denied the claim and said he must have been misheard during a meeting between senior officers and academics as part of Operation Soteria, a Government project to improve the police response to rape.
Yesterday the police watchdog announced that he had been cleared of any wrongdoing despite 'evidence' that he made the remark, after officials concluded it was just a 'misunderstanding'.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation in March last year after Professor Betsy Stanko, a Home Office-appointed adviser helping to conduct a review into rape prosecutions, made the allegations.
Sir Stephen House (pictured), who served as acting Met Commissioner in 2022, was accused by a Home Office adviser of describing the bulk of rape complaints as being the result of 'regretful sex'
But the officer strongly denied the claim and said he must have been misheard during a meeting between senior officers and academics as part of Operation Soteria, a Government project to improve the police response to rape. Pictured: New Scotland Yard
She described Sir Stephen as being rude throughout the meeting in January 2022.
The senior officer was accused of saying rape and sexual assault is not equivalent to serious violence or knife crime and it was alleged that he had used the phrase 'bog of domestics'
