Cop who made sexual remark about widow escaped firing due to retiring

The former head of the Police Federation has been found guilty of gross misconduct for making a lewd remark about the widow of hero PC Andrew Harper.

John Apter was facing disciplinary proceedings for saying of grieving Lissie Harper: 'I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room.'

Mr Apter, 55, who is now retired, made the sickening comment at a ceremony in 2020. Mrs Harper was collecting a posthumous bravery award on behalf of her husband – who was dragged to his death in 2019 by a getaway car he had tried to stop in Berkshire. He was 28 years old.

Apter presented Mrs Harper with the accolade after making the comment to colleagues. Giles Pengelly, chairman of the Hampshire Constabulary disciplinary tribunal, said: 'We find the comment made about Lissie Harper proved and is proved to the level of gross misconduct.'

At proceedings in Eastleigh, Hampshire, yesterday he told Apter that were he still a serving officer he would be dismissed without notice. Instead, his name will be automatically added to the College of Policing's list of barred officers for at least five years.

Apter was cleared of two further charges of gross misconduct following allegations that he had groped a female constable and made sexually inappropriate comments to a third woman. Mrs Harper last week described Apter's comments about her as 'highly inappropriate'.

She became a campaigner after the death of her husband just four weeks after they got married. Mrs Harper was made an MBE last year for her work in ensuring Harper's Law was introduced into statute.

It means those found guilty of killing on-duty police officers or emergency workers now face a mandatory life sentence. Giving evidence, Apter denied making the comment – insisting that, at most, he would have only been trying to ensure Mrs Harper was properly supported during the evening. He said any suggestion that he made a sexually inappropriate remark about Mrs Harper was 'deeply offensive'.

Apter, who enjoyed a 30-year career in policing, was chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales from 2018 to 2021. The association represents the interests of over 145,000 officers.

Apter had been due to present Mrs Harper with the award and was accused of leaving his colleagues shocked by his comment to them.

Hampshire Constabulary disciplinary tribunal's legally qualified chair Giles Pengelly said: 'We find the comment made about Lissie Harper proved and is proved to the level of gross misconduct.'

But Mr Pengelly added: 'We have concluded that if Mr Apter were a serving officer, the least sanction would be dismissal, on account that he is no longer a serving officer and is an ex-officer, the appropriate sanction would be dismissal without notice.'

The panel ruled Apter made the comment in a staff 'huddle' during preparations for the awards ceremony.

Apter kept a blank face as the decision was announced. He is set to be sanctioned today.

Apter was cleared of two further charges of gross misconduct - allegations that he had groped a much younger female constable and made sexually inappropriate comments to a third woman.

The misconduct proceedings at Hampshire Constabulary's headquarters in Eastleigh heard the comments were allegedly made about Mrs Harper at the Annual Roads Policing Conference.

Apter gave a speech at the ceremony and handed Mrs Harper the posthumous award.

She last week described the comments as 'highly inappropriate'.

Mrs Harper became a campaigner after the death of her hero husband, just four weeks after they got married.

She was made an MBE last year for her work to get Harper's Law introduced into statute, ensuring the killers of emergency workers on duty now face a mandatory life sentence.

During the misconduct proceedings, Cecily White, representing the force, set out the circumstances in which the remark was made.

She told the hearing: 'It was about the widow of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in the line of duty.

'His widow, Lissie Harper, was due to attend an awards ceremony to accept a posthumous award on behalf of her husband.

'In the context of a discussion about her attending the event, which would have been quite stressful for her, he said 'I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room', with an obvious sexual connotation.'

It was also heard that Apter was heard saying 'I wouldn't mind looking after her tonight' in relation to Mrs Harper.

The comment was met by an 'awkward' reaction, the panel heard.

Giving evidence, Apter denied making the comment - insisting that, at most, he would have only been trying to ensure Mrs Harper was properly supported during the evening.

He said any suggestion that he made a sexually inappropriate mark about Mrs Harper was 'deeply offensive'.

The panel cleared Mr Apter of a second allegation that he said in early 2019 to a pregnant Police Federation colleague: 'Maybe you'll get a bum now.'

And the panel also cleared the 55-year-old, who served as an officer for 30 years, of an allegation that he had touched the bottom of a woman, referred to as Female A, at a restaurant while visiting London for the National Police Bravery Awards in December 2021 before asking her: 'Is that okay?'

Cecily White, for Hampshire Constabulary, said Mr Apter's comment was 'lewd' and it was 'clearly sexually suggestive, demeaning and derogatory about women'.

Ms White said: 'The public would have regard to the fact that this was a policing event, it was a federation event, and that disconnect between the face that was shown to colleagues internally and the public externally is one that which would be held in low regard by members of the public generally.'

She said that because of his high-profile position, Mr Apter had a 'responsibility to set a good example' to other officers, adding: 'It's of particular concern that police officers deal respectfully with women, particularly in front of other policing colleagues.'

She said: 'This is really about the damage to public trust and confidence in policing and the discredit it could bring on the service, and hampering the good work of other officers up and down the country.'

Ailsa Williamson, representing Mr Apter, said there had not been any further complaint against Mr Apter in relation towards Mrs Harper.

She said: 'All the evidence before you is that John Apter took a very serious approach to Lissie Harper's needs at the policing event.'

She added that after Mrs Harper was informed of the comment, 'her observation was that she was surprised by the allegation because John Apter had only been professional and kind to her on the handful of occasions she had met him'.

Ms Williamson said Mr Apter had been a 'strong advocate for female rights, adding: 'He is not someone who has displayed sexual attitudes.'

She added that Mr Apter hoped that the 'brief and casual way' the comment was made would reduce the 'harm' to Mrs Harper and 'public confidence in policing'.

She said: 'You are dealing with an officer of 30 years of exceptional service and it was his dedication to policing that led to a deterioration in his health and the decision he shouldn't stand for a second term of chair of the Police Federation.

'The length of these proceedings and the investigation has had a significant impact on his health and damaging effects on his reputation, which before these proceedings was completely unblemished.'

Apter, who enjoyed a 30 year career in policing, was chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales from 2018 to 2021.

The association represents the interests of over 130,000 rank and file officers.

As an officer, he served for Hampshire Constabulary.

The Police Federation of England and Wales said that it would not be commenting on the case.