A serving British Transport Police officer based in London has been dismissed following a public misconduct hearing.

Chief Inspector Paul Crouch answered allegations at the hearing between May 23 and May 25 at the Force Headquarters in Camden.

Allegations were that he breached the standards of professional behaviour, namely authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, equality and diversity.

Over a ten year period, Chief Inspector Crouch:

  • Made a comment to a colleague claiming he was sexually aroused while reading about the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl.
  • Made sexist and discriminatory comments about a female colleague, claiming she was promoted due to her gender and sexuality.
  • On two separate occasions, made sexual and offensive comments about a senior, female colleague.
  • Kept a list of female colleagues he found attractive while working in Force Headquarters.
  • Made sexually discriminatory comments to a female colleague, referring to her appearance, weight and attractiveness.
  • Sexually harassed a female colleague over a ten year period, which included smelling her hair and rubbing his thighs in her presence.
  • Created a sexualised working environment by displaying pictures on his wall of famous women he found attractive.
  • Made reference to a recruitment process being unfair because the panel was all female.

The independent panel found that his actions amounted to gross misconduct, and he has been dismissed from the force with immediate effect.

The Legally Qualified Chair in the hearing initially ruled that Crouch's name should be kept anonymous on the basis that he watches football at the weekend and may be subject to hostility from other fans if they found out he was a police officer.

Detective Superintendent Peter Fulton, the head of BTP's professional standards department, said he "fundamentally disagreed with this, and collected evidence to successfully appeal the Chair’s decision so we could openly report his name".

DS Fulton said: “Tackling inappropriate sexual behaviour is BTP’s number one priority, whether that is on the railway network or within our own workforce.

"Officers like Paul Crouch completely undermine our efforts and we are determined to root people like him out, because there’s absolutely no place for sexualised or discriminatory behaviour within British Transport Police.

“I would like to personally thank the colleagues who came forward and provided such compelling evidence which was crucial in holding Crouch to account.

"We will always support anyone who tells us about witnessing or experiencing this sort of behaviour, because without them it goes unchecked.

“Initially, the Legally Qualified Chair in this hearing ruled that Crouch’s name should be kept anonymous on the basis that he watches football at the weekend and may be subject to hostility from other fans if they found out he was a police officer.

"We fundamentally disagreed with this, and collected evidence to successfully appeal the Chair’s decision so we could openly report his name.

"It is absolutely vital that we are open, transparent, and accountable if we are to restore public confidence in policing.”

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