Two Cambridgeshire Police Constables Face Gross Misconduct Hearings Over Assault Investigation
Published on 07/08/2026 at 14:51 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Two Cambridgeshire police constables are to face gross misconduct hearings after an investigation found they failed to properly handle an assault case in Peterborough — raising serious questions about police accountability and the treatment of victims.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concluded that the officers failed to conduct appropriate inquiries into an incident involving Ricky Butcher, who suffered facial injuries outside the Fletton Club on September 27, 2025. The victim required stitches following the attack.
According to the IOPC investigation, one officer allegedly failed to carry out proper inquiries, while both officers are accused of falsely claiming that no CCTV footage of the assault was available. They are also alleged to have entered inaccurate information into the official crime report. Despite five witnesses being present, the investigation was dropped within two days.
Link to Huntingdon Train Attack
The misconduct proceedings follow a wider review of prior police contact with a suspect involved in a mass stabbing on a train in Huntingdon on November 1, 2025. In that incident, 10 people were injured. Anthony Williams, 33, has since been charged with 21 counts, including 14 counts of attempted murder.
Cambridgeshire police referred the matter to the IOPC in November 2025. IOPC director Emily Barry confirmed that the force will now be responsible for organising the misconduct hearings.
Broader Context of Police Misconduct Cases
The announcement comes alongside several other high-profile police misconduct cases reaching legal milestones, both in the UK and internationally.
In San Diego, former Sheriff's Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores was sentenced this week to 57 months in prison for violating the civil rights of a pretrial detainee. Flores was convicted in December 2025 after a trial established that he shoved a shackled individual from behind, causing a spinal fracture that required surgery. His employment was terminated in June 2026, and he has been ordered to report to prison by August 18, 2026.
In New Jersey, Saddle Brook police officer Attilio Dente, 43, was charged on July 2 with aggravated assault, tampering with public records, and obstruction. Prosecutors allege that during an arrest on June 9, 2026, Dente struck a man in the head with a firearm. He is also accused of making false entries in an incident report and intentionally turning off his body-worn camera.
Recent Incidents Under Review
Authorities in California are currently reviewing an incident from July 1, 2026, involving Antioch Police Officer Nicholas Shipilov. Video footage captured during an encampment sweep appears to show the officer punching a woman in the head. While the woman admitted to attempting to bite the officer before the strike, the city council and police leadership are evaluating the use of force.
Separately, a misconduct hearing for former Lincoln police officer Alan Kirkwood recently determined that his use of force was not reasonable during a 2023 incident. Kirkwood had kicked a dog walker after mistaking him for a robbery suspect. Although Kirkwood was acquitted of assault in a 2024 trial, the misconduct hearing concluded he would have received a final written warning had he remained employed by the force.
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