A Northumbria Police officer, Michael Perry, has been terminated without notice for gross misconduct after expressing a desire for “angry sex right now” to a female therapist during a session.
Michael Perry participated in counselling sessions organised by the Police Federation from November 2023 to January 2024 in Annitsford, North Tyneside. The sessions were concluded at the commencement of the sixth term of the then-serving police officer on January 11, 2024, as revealed by a misconduct hearing.
During the prior session, he enquired of his counsellor, referred to as Ms. A during the hearing, whether she wished to go out for a drink and become inebriated. Near the conclusion of the session, he remarked to Ms. A: “I trust I am not being overly presumptuous; I simply have a strong desire for passionate intimacy at this moment.”
During a subsequent counselling session, PC Michael Perry characterised women as “man haters” and asserted that they were all feminists, claiming this was the primary issue in society. During his testimony during the misconduct inquiry, he stated that he “did not oppose feminism but believed it should be equitable for all.”
The panel, led by Assistant Chief Officer Joscelin Lawson, classified his original remark as sexist and suggested a deficiency in self-control and tolerance for others.
PC Michael Perry encountered grievances concerning five more facets of his behaviour during the sessions, which included searching for information on Ms. A online, remarking that she did not resemble her photograph, posing intrusive personal enquiries to Ms. A, and encroaching upon her personal space. The Panel determined that five of the seven claims were substantiated on the balance of probabilities.
The misconduct panel determined that PC Michael Perry’s behaviour included intimidation, sexualised remarks, and misogyny, which directly impacted the standing and reputation of Northumbria Police. They deemed each individual claim significant, albeit some were more grave than others.
A last written warning was contemplated but seen as inadequate to sustain public trust in the police service. PC Michael Perry was terminated without prior notification. He possesses the right to appeal to the Police Appeals Tribunal.
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