EXCLUSIVE: Decision allowing 'groping cop' to stay in job 'makes mockery' of Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley's 'bad apples' clear out

A MET Police officer who groped two female colleagues, put an ice cube down another's top and made inappropriate sexual comments during a boozy night out has kept his job with a final written warning.

A campaigner said the decision to allow PC Christopher Bowdery to remain on the force after his shameful behaviour made a mockery of Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley's bid to rid the force of "bad apples".

Sir Mark has previously vowed to challenge any misconduct hearing outcomes that were not in line with his clean-up drive, but the force confirmed it would not be appealing this outcome.

It comes as the force was already reeling from a BBC Panorama documentary after a journalist gained a job within the custody suite at Charing Cross police station.

Four officers have been dismissed after fast-tracked misconduct hearings found they were guilty of gross misconduct from racist and misogynistic behaviour following comments made during the making of the secretly-filmed documentary.

Bowdery was accused of predatory behaviour during an off-duty social event which began at a Be At One bar in the capital on April 27 2023.

It was alleged that he pulled forward the top of one female colleague and dropped an ice cube down her front.

He was also alleged to have "made inappropriate, disrespectful and sexualised comments to colleagues about (PC A)", by commenting on her bottom and her perceived ability at a sex act.

On the same evening he was alleged to have "fondled the backside of his colleague A whilst standing at the bar."

He was ejected from the venue, which colleagues also left, and followed them to a second bar.

It was further alleged that he "grabbed or slapped the backsides of his colleagues A and C while standing" at the second bar.

A report written following a misconduct hearing which found him guilty of gross misconduct in connection with all the allegations said: "The conduct alleged in each of the allegations was unwarranted, unwelcome and unprompted. Constable Bowdery was inebriated at the time. As a consequence of his behaviour, he was ejected from the venue. His persistent comments and sexual touching caused distress to those concerned and reflected extremely poorly on the police service. It is beyond doubt that public confidence in policing would be significantly undermined by witnessing a police officer behave in such a way."

However, the panel found the incident with the ice cube, which involved a different female officer, was "jovial interaction and workplace horseplay" and did not cause any stress.

In respect of the three other allegations, the panel found "the conduct was deliberate and repeated, involving multiple incidents of inappropriate physical contact and sexualised remarks" and that the level of harm caused was high.

Yet, it chose not to dismiss him, and, instead to give a five-year written warning, because he had no previous disciplinary history, a positive service record, including multiple commendations, extensive involvement in voluntary work during his personal time, no history of alcohol related incidents and, it appeared to be a one-off."

Alice Vinten is a former Met Police officer, turned author, who highlights misogynistic behaviour by police officers online.

She compared the outcome to the misconduct case of former Police Sergeant David French, who was dismissed without notice from the Met in July after he was found guilty of gross misconduct for making sexualised remarks to a female officer he walked past at Catford police station in June 2022.

In a series of posts on X, she wrote: "Make this make sense@metpoliceuk. PS David French makes a sexist comment to a female inspector = gross misconduct = (quite rightly) Dismissed. PC Christopher Bowdery 'sexually assaults' two colleagues and makes sexist/inappropriate comments = gross misconduct = keeps his job.

"How is (Bowdery) allowed to keep holding the privileged position of police constable? How is this possible? The@metpoliceuk does not care about women. How must those female officers feel having to work with the man?"

She later said: "This decision to allow PC Bowdery to remain in his job makes a complete mockery of Sir Mark Rowley's pledge he was going to clean up the force."

Asked why the Met wasn't appealing the outcome, a spokesperson said: "The chair of the hearing has clearly outlined his rationale so we have nothing further to add."