Britain’s FBI has a ‘toxic male culture’ where sexism and bad behaviour may be ‘brushed under the carpet’ and top officers escape sanction, a watchdog has found.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) was likened to an ‘old boys’ network’ yesterday by some staff who said ‘casual sexism’ is tolerated and ‘predatory sexual behaviour’ is treated with leniency.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found senior NCA staff accused of misconduct are escaping suspension and being moved to different departments, in contrast to junior staff who don’t receive the same favourable treatment.
Inspectors now want the Home Office to change the law so that NCA staff dismissed for misconduct can also be banned from working elsewhere in law enforcement.
The report raises the prospect that the joint deputy head of the NCA, Steve Rodhouse could be placed on a College of Policing barred list if he is found guilty of gross misconduct.
The report by HMICFRS raises the prospect that the joint deputy head of the NCA, Steve Rodhouse (pictured) could be placed on a College of Policing barred list if he is found guilty of gross misconduct
Last month the NCA came under fire from victims of the bungled VIP sex abuse inquiry, Operation Midland, for failing to suspend Mr Rodhouse, its former chief, as he faces a disciplinary board over allegations that he lied in public about the investigation.
Mr Rodhouse, who led the disastrous probe into false sex abuse allegations when he was previously at the Metropolitan Police, has now been removed from his NCA role to work on ‘other projects’ while the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigates.
Yesterday in a report on how the NCA deals with corruption, inspectors warned: ‘Senior staff under investigation for misconduct were treated differently to those of lower grades.
‘Junior officers will usually be suspended immediately if suspected of sexual misconduct.
‘But we found examples of officers more senior than their victims, with multiple allegations against them, being moved to other departments.’
In some instances, those found guilty of misconduct were allowed to rejoin their teams or move to other government departments or police forces.
There were examples of staff being let off with written warnings for ‘predatory sexual behaviour’.
Inspectors said many staff felt ‘poor behaviour isn’t worth reporting because senior leaders tolerate it.’
The report said: ‘We were told of one location that was described as having an ‘old boys’ network’ that included the leadership team.
‘This network was felt to be so strong that, if one of “their boys” was accused of improper behaviour, it would be “brushed under the carpet”.’
Inspectors found ‘significant evidence of prejudicial and improper behaviour in units and teams based in satellite offices’.
Casual sexism and ‘toxic male cultures’ are tolerated in operational teams, where representation of women and ethnic minorities is ‘almost zero’.
One investigator who joined the NCA said it felt ‘it was like stepping back in time to an old-fashioned [police] CID office’.
The report found: ‘Women are still subject to sexist comments in the office and on informal WhatsApp groups. These groups include people in leadership roles.
‘Worryingly, these individuals aren’t only failing to challenge poor behaviour; in some cases they join in with it.’
A staff survey suggested that 34 per cent of victims who had complained about prejudicial or improper behaviour felt they had been punished for speaking out.
‘We were repeatedly told about ‘toxic male cultures’, inspectors said. ‘We found they were tolerated by women in the organisation because women are outnumbered and fear the stigma and repercussions of speaking out.’
Yesterday Home Secretary Suella Braverman backed calls for a change in the law to add NCA staff to a College of Policing Barred List which already exists to prevent police officers sacked for misconduct going to another force.
She said: ‘The inspection also identified a need to consider possible changes to legislation to clarify and strengthen the Agency’s professional standards, and to allow the NCA to have a Barred List established to ensure those staff who are dismissed for misconduct are prevented from working elsewhere in law enforcement.
‘I am clear that the requisite changes should be made at the earliest opportunity.’
NCA Director General Graeme Biggar said: ‘The report finds that most of our officers are professional and our culture is generally positive and inclusive.
‘But it also identifies pockets of bad behaviour and casual sexism, and that we have not provided the leadership to ensure they are tackled.
‘These findings cause me deep discomfort, and I apologise to officers, particularly female officers, that we have let down, through the conduct of their colleagues, through our leadership, or through inconsistencies in our disciplinary outcomes.
‘As Director General, I am determined that we set high standards, and that we are clear that there is no place in the NCA for those who do not meet them. In particular, we will not tolerate harassment or discrimination, and we will root out unacceptable behaviour.
‘We are taking extensive action to address the report’s findings, and have already implemented many of the recommendations.’
DailyMail
