Met Police Blamed Victim Who Reported Predatory Officer, Then Apologised After Years of Neglect
The Metropolitan Police has issued a formal apology to a woman who was groomed by a predatory officer but was dismissed and discredited instead of being protected. The woman, known as Lorraine (not her real name), spent seven years trying to report PC Phil Hunter, only to be ignored while false claims about her mental health were spread internally.
According to documents obtained by the BBC, the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) admitted to a series of failings in handling Lorraine’s complaints. In a letter from Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Smithson, the force apologised for its mishandling and “victim-blaming” attitude toward her.
False Mental Health Claims Used to Discredit Victim
Lorraine first met PC Hunter during a welfare check in 2017. What followed was a calculated campaign by the officer to isolate and manipulate her, sending inappropriate messages and attempting to start a sexual relationship. Despite multiple attempts to raise the alarm, her complaints were repeatedly dismissed.
The Met wrongly recorded Lorraine as having mental health problems, a claim that was later shared with social services, her GP, and other agencies—without basis and without her consent. She was even accused of fabricating allegations, a claim now proven false.
“He knew the Met didn’t take me seriously,” Lorraine said. “He used that power over me. I was terrified.”
Officer Found Guilty, But Years Later
PC Phil Hunter retired in 2019 while under investigation for a separate misconduct case involving another vulnerable woman. In 2020, he was found guilty of gross misconduct, and in 2023, after Lorraine’s case was finally reviewed, he was again found guilty of gross misconduct in a second hearing.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) overruled the Met’s original decision not to hold a second hearing and said Hunter would have been instantly dismissed had he still been serving.
A System That Failed at Every Level
Lorraine said the Met not only failed to act but used her words out of context to support Hunter in his first misconduct hearing. Her original statement, in which she mentioned he “seemed nice” during their initial meeting, was used to downplay her experience as a victim.
“I was re-traumatised by the very system that should have protected me,” she told the BBC. “Trying to report him was worse than what he did to me.”
She also said Hunter continued to learn details about her life after leaving the force, using insider gossip to intimidate and control her movements.
Met Accused of Ignoring Misconduct Patterns
Despite knowing that Hunter had previously targeted another vulnerable woman, the Met ignored Lorraine’s early complaints, failing to log or investigate them properly for 18 months. The DPS has since admitted these decisions were influenced by false beliefs about her mental health.
The case was cited in Baroness Casey’s damning 2023 review, which found the Met to be institutionally misogynistic and resistant to reform. Lorraine—referred to in the report as “M”—was listed as a case study of systemic failure.
Reform or Hollow Promises?
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has promised a crackdown on rogue officers, redeploying teams from major departments to bolster the DPS. But Lorraine is unconvinced.
“They’ve learned nothing. Their promises are just hollow words,” she said. “If you can’t trust the police, where do you go for help?”
She’s now calling for the IOPC to investigate former DPS head Catherine Roper, who has since become Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.
The IOPC confirmed Lorraine has the right to escalate the matter and that any official complaint will be assessed to determine whether further investigation is warranted.
