Avon and Somerset police have apologised after scores of officers and staff came forward to reveal that the force’s own doctor had subjected them to sexual or inappropriate behaviour during routine medical examinations.
The force also accepted that it missed a number of chances to investigate Dr Reginald Bunting, who died aged 80 in 2013.
It said that if he was still alive Bunting would be facing an interview under caution as a criminal suspect. The force also revealed concerns raised about four living doctors had been passed on to the General Medical Council.
Bunting’s alleged activities came to light in 2015 when retired officers raised concerns about the way initial recruitment medical examinations were carried out.
An investigation was launched by a retired Merseyside detective superintendent, Tim Keelan, who spoke to 110 officers or staff - women and men - and complaints were made ranging from voyeurism to sexual touching. In addition, allegations of penetrative assault on two civilians were discovered.
Keelan confirmed that in 64 of the 110 cases the doctor involved was Bunting, who worked with the police in various roles from 1972-2004. In 21 cases a different medic carried out the investigation and in some cases it had not been possible to pinpoint who was involved.
The force had significant opportunities to intervene after complaints were made, Keelan concluded. In 1991 a number of women made complaints and an assistant chief constable wrote that new arrangements would be made “so there will be no future embarrassment”.
Keelan’s report says there is little if any evidence any changes were made. More female officers came forward in 1995 and the following year the Police Federation expressed concerns. But Bunting was allowed to carry on.
One female staff member told Keelan’s inquiry that her complaints were “brushed off” and she had the impression that the person she spoke to knew how Bunting operated but it was “how things were”.
In its written response, Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Morgan said the allegations represented an “unresolved and unhealthy legacy” for the force.
Avon and Somerset accepted that at least 44 of the 112 cases looked at contained elements where the medical examination “fell below a common or acceptable standard for the time” and another 10 cases at least were “woefully or grossly below common and acceptable standards”.
It said some complainants had kept quiet at the time because they feared their careers could be in jeopardy if they spoke out, adding: “Dr Bunting held considerable power over recruits, the power to confirm or deny an appointment.”
The force also accepted that the investigation revealed several missed opportunities. It has referred this element back to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is carrying out its own investigation.
Morgan said: “We apologise unreservedly to all the people affected, whether they raised concerns during the investigation or not, for failing to ensure acceptable medical conduct during their examinations.
“Anyone requiring a police medical examination held on police premises by a police doctor should have had an expectation of being safe. It is clear that the conduct of some of these medical examinations fell well below this standard.
“Because Dr Bunting died in 2013, two years before this investigation was launched, he did not have the opportunity to give an account. For this reason, we are not going to hypothesise about whether or not we would have referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration of prosecution.
“Had Dr Bunting been alive, there would have been sufficient evidence to interview him under caution as a criminal suspect.”
