Record number of cops barred from policing for offences including child sex abuse and rape

A record number of officers were barred from policing last year for offences including child sexual abuse, rape and stalking, new figures reveal. In total, 757 were banned from serving after they were sacked for breaching professional standards, up from 735 in 2024/25 and 594 in 2023/24. It is the highest number in a year since the barred list was introduced at the end of 2017, the College of Policing said on Tuesday. Five superintendents and four chief superintendents were among those banned for life from policing.

Police constables were the most common rank added to the list, accounting for 641 officers out of a total of 757 for the year ending March 2026. To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed. Among the allegations were 142 instances of dishonesty, 110 of discriminatory behaviour, 101 of unlawful access or disclosure of information and 87 instances of sexual offences or misconduct.

In some cases multiple offences were proven to have been committed. Director of Operational Standards at the College of Policing, ACC Arman Mathieson, said: "Policing is built on trust, and these figures show we will not hesitate to act when that trust is broken. 757 officers have been removed and barred from ever serving again, including those who retired or resigned while under investigation. "This represents 0.5% of all serving officers, with the vast majority of officers serving with courage, professionalism and integrity.

We all deserve a service that roots out those who fall short. Where standards are breached, we will find out, and we will act. "Since the Barred List was introduced in December 2017, 3,591 regular officers have been added in total, with the pace of dismissals accelerating markedly: 757 officers were barred last year alone, more than in any single year since the list began, and over twice the annual average of the preceding four years.”

The rise comes after PC Wayne Couzens was jailed for the murder of Sarah Everard, 33, who he kidnapped, raped and murdered in March 2021. He is serving a whole-life order. David Carrick, a former armed officer in the Met Police, is serving 36 life sentences for attacks on more than a dozen women. Officers, specials and staff sacked after breaching professional standards are banned from returning to policing and added to the list. The cops were added to the list following breaches of professional standards for misconduct ranging from dishonesty and discriminatory behaviour to violence and abuse.

The report said that 334 serving officers were placed on the list, 397 after they had resigned and 26 after they had retired. The forces with the highest number of officers added were the Metropolitan Police with 195 (current workforce 31,495), Greater Manchester Police with 46 (workforce 8,234) and West Midlands Police (workforce 8,174). The number of officers from forces in England and Wales placed on the list has increased year on year since 2021/22 when 299 were added; with 394 added in 2022/23.

Looking at gender, 124 officers and specials were female, with 656 male and two who preferred to self-describe; while 148 police staff were female and 199 were male, with one preferring to self-describe.