Lincolnshire Police officers accused of misconduct following intimate search of a mentally-ill woman deny allegations against them

The Independent Office for Police Conduct argues the search robbed the vulnerable woman of her dignity, with a bodycam recording and male officers present – but officers have denied they went too far and tried to explain their actions as being motivated by a fear for her safety.

Sgt James Rowe, PC Laren Monde, PC Liam Elder, SC Ellie Denton and SC Dillon Horgan, who are stationed at Lincoln and Gainsborough police stations, deny all of the misconduct allegations against them.

PC Hannah Sleath, who carried out the intimate search, accepts that activating her bodycam constituted misconduct but denies that it amounts to gross misconduct.

She said she was acting in good faith and considered it to be a matter of life and death.

The woman searched, identified only as Ms A, was detained under the Mental Health Act on July 16, 2024, after claiming she would hurt herself.

She was transported to the Peter Hodgkinson Centre in Lincoln County Hospital, where she was searched, but medical staff later saw her with tablets.

Police carried out a second search, recorded on bodycam, when Ms A was touched around and inside her vagina in order to find drugs hidden there.

Now, PC Liam Elder, PC Hannah Sleath, SC Ellie Denton and SC Dillon Horgan have been accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour regarding use of force, duties and responsibilities, discreditable conduct, and authority, respect and courtesy.

Meanwhile, Sgt James Rowe is accused of breaching the standards of duties and responsibilities, as well as challenging and reporting improper conduct.

Finally, PC Laren Mounde is accused of breaching the standards of duties and responsibilities, discreditable conduct and authority, respect and courtesy.

On Wednesday September 9, the third day of the police misconduct hearing, which took place at Grantham Police Station, four of the six officers accused of misconduct gave evidence.

Sgt James Rowe denied allegations that he was aware that an intimate search was due to take place or was being considered.

CCTV footage showed Sgt Rowe making a hand gesture at the officers present, but Sgt Rowe said he could not remember why he had made this gesture or that this implied that an intimate search was likely to take place.

Sgt Rowe told the hearing that while he had been trained on the correct procedures involving intimate searches, he had never undertaken one himself during his 11-year policing career.

Sgt Rowe also said he wasn’t present at the time that the intimate search took place. He said he was not in the room for either of the two searches.

Sgt Rowe added: “An intimate search is such a rare thing to talk about that it wouldn’t have been discussed, otherwise I would have remembered it.”

He told the panel that it was unusual to carry out an intimate search in a mental health suite, adding “it’s not something we do”.

Sgt Rowe explained that intimate searches should be authorised by an offer ranked at least at inspector level and should be carried out by a ‘medical practitioner’, unless an inspector or above says that this is not ‘practicable’.

Sgt Rowe said he was only told about the intimate search after it had taken place.

PC Sleath said she carried out the intimate search because she believed Ms A was at risk of overdose after she was told by medical staff that the woman had ‘swallowed’ and ‘concealed’ an unknown amount of tablets, prompting concerns for her safety.

PC Sleath told the hearing that she accepted that she carried out the intimate search without the authorisation of a police inspector – a requirement in order for this type of search to be carried out.

PC Sleath said she was concerned for the welfare of Ms A and was acting with the best intentions, adding “it felt like life and death”.

She added: “She was going to die and that was what I believed at the time. I didn’t want that to happen.”

PC Sleath said she regrets not asking for additional police support and not considering other ways to find and remove the tablets concealed by Ms A.

But she said she believed she was acting with the best intentions to prevent serious harm.

PC Laren Mounde denied the allegations against her during her evidence, whilePC Liam Elder who said he was ‘not aware’ that an intimate search was going to be carried out or was being considered.

He added: “It was not something I believed we were allowed to do. It was never thought of.”

PC Elder denied using excessive force to restrain Ms A and said he was looking out for his colleagues PC Sleath and SC Denton who he said had been ‘assaulted’ by the woman.

PC Elder accepted that he used force on Ms A and restrained her but said this was applied with ‘minimal resistance’ and was solely to protect his colleagues.

He accepted that he found out that an intimate search was going on but denies seeing Ms A’s genitalia.

PC Elder said Ms A was covered up when he entered the room.

He accepted that the intimate search of Ms A shouldn’t have happened and accepted his use of force on the woman didn’t help the situation.

The hearing continues.