Intimate search of woman by officer was 'unlawful'

A Lincolnshire Police officer has been handed a final written warning for gross misconduct after carrying out an intimate search of a vulnerable woman that was found to be unlawful, unnecessary and disproportionate.

PC Hannah Sleath conducted two searches of the patient, referred to as Ms A, at the Peter Hodgkinson Centre at Lincoln County Hospital on 16 July 2024.

The searches "included touching in and around her vagina" after Ms A had concealed drugs on her body.

Sleath was found to have breached professional standards and was handed the warning which will last for five years following a misconduct hearing at Grantham Police Station.

Sleath had also recorded the second search on her body worn camera, which Lincolnshire Police said "further eroded Ms A's dignity".

A second officer, PC Liam Elder, was handed a written warning for misconduct after using force to restrain Ms A during the search.

The force said he became aware the search was unlawful but failed to challenge or question what was happening.

During the hearing's opening, Olivia Checa-Dover, counsel for Lincolnshire Police, said Ms A had been detained after expressing suicidal thoughts and was taken to Lincoln County Hospital.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Sleath told the hearing she believed Ms A was at risk of an overdose after medical staff reported she had swallowed and concealed an unknown number of tablets.

She said she acted out of concern for the woman's welfare and with the best intentions, describing the situation as feeling "like life and death".

Sleath accepted she carried out the intimate search without the authorisation of a police inspector, which she acknowledged was required.

Elder denied using excessive force to restrain Ms A but accepted he was aware the intimate search was taking place.

He told the hearing he was looking out for his colleagues who he said had been "assaulted" by the woman.

Emily Barry, from the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said: "There was no malign intent on behalf of the officers: the searching officer said it was a dynamic situation and that she acted in good faith.

"However, not enough consideration was given to the psychological harm and distress such a search can have.

"Less intrusive options, such as treating the incident as a medical emergency and seeking medical help, were not explored."

Barry added that police had "no powers to carry out an intimate search" and that even if the powers had been in place, "it was not appropriate for male officers to be present or for body worn video to record the search".

Four other officers who were present at the incident were cleared by the panel of any misconduct.

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