Lincolnshire Police officer's 'unlawful' search of mentally ill woman was gross misconduct
A Lincolnshire Police officer’s intimate search of a vulnerable woman amounted to gross misconduct, a hearing has found.
PC Hannah Sleath was attempting to find drugs which a woman who had been detained under the Mental Health Act had hidden inside her.
However, an independent misconduct panel found the searches were unlawful, and has issued the officer a final written warning which will last for five years.
She told the panel that she feared it was a “life or death” situation to stop the woman taking the tablets.
The vulnerable woman, named only as Ms A, was detained at the Peter Hodgkinson Centre at Lincoln County Hospital on July 16, 2024.
PC Sleath searched her twice – first touching around her vagina and the second time inside it – to find drugs hidden there.
The nine-day misconduct panel, which concluded on Thursday, September 17, heard allegations against a total of six officers.
Medical staff gave evidence that they were concerned about what was happening and wanted the woman taken to A&E instead.
Assistant Chief Constable Kate Anderson said it was an “extreme course of action” which showed the officer didn’t understand the law on intimate searches.
She said: “The public would be concerned to see an officer partially removing a vulnerable woman’s trousers and searching her genital area.
“There was time to seek advice but PC Sleath proceeded, exposing Ms A.”
Steven Reed, representing the officers, said it was an “attempt to do the right thing that went wrong”, and that PC Sleath wasn’t trained on intimate searches.
He said: “PC Sleath had a genuine belief that Ms A would suffer serious harm or die if the drugs weren’t found.
“She turned on her bodyworn camera, demonstrating that she was trying to do the right thing.”
Allegations were completely dismissed against four of the six officers in the hearing – Sgt James Rowe, PC Laren Mounde, SC Ellie Denton and SC Dillon Horgan.
PC Liam Elder was found to have committed misconduct by not reporting the search, and will receive a written warning.
The panel concluded that all other officers were unaware that PC Sleath planned to carry out the searches before they began, or hadn’t realised they were happening due to the chaotic situation.
Sgt Rowe was not in the room at the time, at the panel found no evidence he had instructed it.
The charges were brought by the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
PC Sleath was found to have breached the policing standards for use of force during the first search,discreditable conduct, and authority, respect and courtesy, which amounted to gross misconduct.
She also admitted breaching the standards for duties and responsibilities for not seeking advice.