A crime tsar has become involved in a row with his own force after issuing a rare rebuke over its gendering of a trans sex crime suspect.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said Thames Valley Police was ‘clearly wrong’ when it relied on gender self-ID to call Osareen Omoruyi, charged with two counts of sexual assault against a child, a woman in a press release.
In a highly unusual intervention in a live criminal case, the elected Police and Crime Commissioner said the 51-year-old ‘is male’ and has been remanded to a male prison.
He wrote in a lengthy statement on his website on Sunday: ‘Thames Valley Police have, mistakenly in my view, relied on the ‘self-described gender’ in publishing a press release that incorrectly states that a woman has been charged with these offences.’
He said it was important that the public and potential victims understand the facts and that statistics about sexual offences are accurate.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber (pictured) said Thames Valley Police was ‘clearly wrong’ when it relied on gender self-ID to call Osareen Omoruyi, charged with two counts of sexual assault against a child, a woman in a press release
In a highly unusual intervention in a live criminal case, the elected Police and Crime Commissioner said 51-year-old Osareen Omoruyi (pictured) ‘is male’ and has been remanded to a male prison
The incident in Witney town centre, Oxfordshire, on Wednesday evening was spotted by CCTV operators, directing officers immediately to ‘safeguard the child and arrest the suspect’
‘The police and other criminal justice agencies must deal in facts, as best evidenced to them at the time. Any failure to do so risks damaging public confidence and overshadowing excellent policing in the interests of public safety,’ Mr Barber wrote.
He added that people should be free to describe themselves however they like, but went on: ‘In cases of serious sexual offending when public protection is at stake the vast majority of people will rightly expect the criminal justice system to deal in facts and nothing more.
‘The accused in this case, Osareen Omoruyi, is a 51 year old male.’
However he added that the operational response by the force had been ‘exemplary’.
The incident in Witney town centre, Oxfordshire, on Wednesday evening was spotted by CCTV operators, directing officers immediately to ‘safeguard the child and arrest the suspect’.
Mr Barber spoke out after the force he scrutinises issued a statement titled: ‘Woman charged in connection with sexual offences.’
The short press release published on Friday, which was condemned by women’s rights campaigners, stated: ‘Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a woman has been charged in connection with sexual offences in Witney.’
Omoruyi, of Witney, has been charged ‘with two counts each of sexual assault by penetration and causing/ inciting a child to engage in sexual activity’. Picture shows Omoruyi taking a photograph in a mirror
The short press release published on Friday, which was condemned by women’s rights campaigners, stated: ‘Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a woman has been charged in connection with sexual offences in Witney.’ Picture shows Omoruyi taking a selfie
Thames Valley Police claimed it had been following the law and police guidelines by treating the suspect according to their self-described gender. Picture shows Omoruyi sitting down
On Sunday night Thames Valley Police said it was aware some public concern has been shared on social media following the publication of its charge release on Friday. Picture shows Omoruyi taking a photo beside a window
Thames Valley Police said: ‘The individual identified as a female and the officers treated them as such in accordance with College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice which outlines that officers should treat the person according to their stated preference’. Picture shows Omoruyi standing over a bed
The force said that Omoruyi, of Witney, had been charged ‘with two counts each of sexual assault by penetration and causing/ inciting a child to engage in sexual activity’.
Last night the force hit back, saying claimed it had been following the law and police guidelines by treating the suspect according to their self-described gender.
It said: ‘Thames Valley Police is aware some public concern has been shared on social media following the publication of our charge release on Friday in relation to a sexual offences investigation in Witney.
‘Thames Valley Police adheres to the law and the codes of practice, including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code C, when establishing the gender of a person in our custody.
‘The individual identified as a female and the officers treated them as such in accordance with College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice which outlines that officers should treat the person according to their stated preference. Consequently, our charge press release that was published reflected this position.’
The force added: ‘The Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber has raised concerns about the press release and his comments are being carefully considered and reviewed by the force.’
