A custody detention officer based at Bolton Police Station has been arrested following allegations of sexual touching, misconduct in public office, and cyberflashing.

The officer was arrested on Sunday, July 14, following a complaint made to Greater Manchester Police last month. They are now on bail.

The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct following the complaint, which comes just a month after a former Bolton officer was jailed for an ‘intimate’ relationship with a woman he was called out to help.

Later this month, a report into how GMP treats women and girls in its custody, authored by Dame Vera Baird, is set to be published.

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In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: “We arrested a GMP Custody Detention Officer based at Bolton Police Station on Sunday 14 July 2024 on suspicion of sexual touching, misconduct in a public office, and cyberflashing.

“This staff member has been suspended from the force, and the alleged conduct has been referred to the IOPC. 

“This comes following a complaint made to our Professional Standards Directorate last month, as to alleged sexual misconduct which began the previous month.

“We have seized CCTV footage from the police custody suite and secured other digital material. Our detectives are currently in the process of obtaining full accounts from all relevant parties.

“An internal review has been undertaken into how the complaint was initially handled and we are making a voluntary referral to the IOPC as to the decisions and speed of action taken in response to the allegation made.

“We have engaged with the complainant and offered her specialist support.

“We understand this comes in the week where Dame Vera Baird’s report into the treatment of people in our custody will be published.

“We continue to make improvements to ensure women and girls have confidence in the way they are treated by police, but there is no place in GMP for those who fall short of the exemplary standards of behaviour that the public so rightly deserve.”

An internal review is also being undertaken into how the complaint was initially handled, and the force had made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), it said.

The IOPC said it was a mandatory referral.

IOPC regional director Catherine Bates said: “These are very serious allegations against someone in a position of authority and it is important for these to be fully investigated.

“In light of the nature of the complaint, this will be done by the IOPC, independently of the police.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.