Nottingham police chief 'wants public's trust' after facing backlash in handling reports from women

Nottinghamshire's Chief Constable Craig Guildford responds to county's former chief Sue Fish saying she can't trust police service to treat female victims of crime properly

The chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police has said he "wants the public to trust the police service", as forces have faced a backlash in their handling of reports from women.

Speaking to ITV Central's Reporter Mark Kielesz-Levine, Craig Guildford said his force can be trusted, before adding: "Most police forces in the UK are the best in the world."

When asked whether he could understand why people are concerned about their safety, in regards to the police, Mr Guildford said: "I refute that because the people that are trusted with their safety are my officers and staff and they can utterly be trusted."

His comments about trust within the force comes after the ex-chief of Nottinghamshire Police recently told ITV News Central she "cannot trust British police" and their approach in dealing with reports from women and girls.

'This is a problem of men in society, it's not a problem of women in society,' police chief says

Responding to Sue Fish's comments, Mr Guildford said: "I'm disappointed that's actually been said by a former temporary chief constable, and particularly one that's here and somebody that did good work.

"But my perspective is very much that they can be trusted, they are trustworthy and we are here to serve the public.

"Yes, in many occasions when these things come to light in the public domain we absolutely need to make sure that we are reassuring the public but I reassure the public entirely.

"Our force is professional and my job is to throw out anybody that doesn't subscribe to those views.

"And let me go a step further and be absolutely clear that this is a problem of men in society, it's not a problem of women in society."

Under Ms Fish's leadership, Nottinghamshire Police became the first force in the country to treat misogyny as a hate crime.

Since stepping down, Ms Fish also said at least 50 female officers across the country have contacted her about the behaviour of their male colleagues. 

She said a number of serving police officers have approached her saying they've experienced misogyny and sexism, and when they have tried to speak up they have been shut down.

Her comments come as a serving female officer from the East Midlands force has approached ITV Central because she wants to speak out about her experiences.

She alleges she has been subjected to inappropriate behaviour at work.

The behaviour the female officer claimed she had experienced was "completely and utterly unacceptable", police chief says

She said she was groped by another officer on a work night out, had comments made about her body and her breasts, and even witnessed female victims of crime being rated out of 10 when they came into the station to make a statement.

In response, Mr Guildford said: "I'd be keen to hear the detail of that."

He said: "We have a tried and tested mechanism of a confidential reporting line.

"We also have a system in professional standards whereby people can report anonymously and report to a different professional standards unit, if required."

Mr Guildford said the behaviour the woman claimed she had experienced was "completely and utterly unacceptable".

He said: "That's seriously wrong, that should not happen, and any force that becomes aware of that will take positive action against anything like that, I utterly assure you."

However, the officer had already attempted to make a complaint, and claimed it was dismissed as 'banter'.

"The way that you're describing that to me, certainly doesn't sound like banter," the chief constable said.

"Banter is not inappropriate touching, that's an assault. It's a sexual assault. It's serious misconduct, and certainly, if it was across my desk, I would have a very clear view on it."

Mr Guildford added that changes are taking place within police culture and that half of recruits are now female.