Former Detective's Scandal
A former detective, James Mason, is currently facing allegations of inappropriate behavior both during an investigation and within the workplace. The allegations have come to light in a High Court hearing, shedding light on a series of events involving Mr. Mason's conduct.
In 2011, Mr. Mason sent inappropriate messages to Kristina O'Connor, leading to a gross misconduct finding, a final warning, and his resignation from the Metropolitan Police in late 2022.
New Allegations
During the recent High Court hearing, new allegations about Mr. Mason's behavior came to light. These allegations were made by a senior female police officer who had worked in a Metropolitan unit led by Mr. Mason over a decade ago. According to the officer, Mr. Mason had a history of making inappropriate comments frequently and displaying overly interested behavior toward attractive female police constables. One incident involved Mr. Mason's actions being described as "scanning the office like a wolf."
Legal Battle and Arguments
The case involves ongoing litigation with arguments from both sides. Lawyers representing Kristina O’Connor argue that the Metropolitan Police failed to properly investigate the initial complaint and that the police misconduct panel did not address the "predatory and abusive" actions of Mr. Mason adequately. Conversely, lawyers representing the misconduct panel and the Metropolitan Police dispute these claims and contend that the decisions to be made by the judge are not influenced by the new allegations.
The Judge's Role
Mr. Justice Swift presides over the case and has heard evidence related to these allegations. However, a ruling is pending. Ms. O'Connor's legal team has urged the judge to consider the officer's allegations when delivering a final ruling on her complaints concerning the investigation process.
Response from James Mason
In his defense, Mr. Mason has claimed that his inappropriate behavior toward Ms. O’Connor was an isolated incident. However, barrister Fiona Murphy KC, representing Ms. O’Connor, has presented the officer's allegations as evidence to the contrary.
