High Court Challenge To Met Police’s Handling Of Sexual Misconduct Case

A Judicial Review of the Metropolitan Police’s handling of sexual misconduct by one of their officers will begin today at the High Court in London. Kristina O’Connor is taking legal action after she complained about the conduct of DCI Mason when she reported to him that she’d been assaulted by a group of young men in 2011.

Ms O’Connor told the Met that DCI Mason had made inappropriate advances towards her of a sexual nature and continued to pursue her over a series of emails and explained to her that rejecting him would be “frowned upon.”

Kristina O’Connor’s complaint was investigated in 2022, and a Police Misconduct Panel found DCI Mason guilty of eight counts of misconduct. The officer was served with a written warning, but he continued to serve, kept his rank, and secured a number of promotions before resigning. DCI Mason even went on to work in the office of the Met police commissioner at the time, Dame Cressida Dick.

Kristina O’Connor is being represented by Nancy Collins at Hodge Jones and Allen Solicitors. And by Fiona Murphy KC and Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC at Doughty Street Chambers. Good Law Project is supporting the case.

Nancy Collins, Partner at Hodge Jones and Allen, said: “This is a significant case concerning police-perpetrated harassment of women and the police disciplinary process. It is important to recognise the bravery of our client in seeking to challenge the failures in the process to ensure greater accountability and enforced protection for victims of police-perpetrated harassment. We are grateful for the support of the Good Law Project”.

Tamara Walters from Good Law Project said: “Good Law Project is supporting Kristina to bring this case because women should never be subjected to sexual advances by police officers. We hope this case will ensure the Met follows full and proper disciplinary procedures when officers abuse their position and tackles the endemic misogyny that exists in the force to build women’s trust that sexual harassment will not be tolerated.”

The hearing at the High Court will last two days, and the judgment is expected to be reserved.