Women on social media are reacting to a police officer getting sacked over two packets of Jaffa Cakes, following the widespread criticism of the hundreds of sexual misconduct in different forces across the UK.
PC Chris Dwyer took the two packets of Jaffa Cakes from a charity stall without paying full price.
The police constable paid just 10p for the two packets from Halifax Police Station’s canteen instead of the correct price of £1.
When the 51-year-old was questioned about it by a colleague, he tried to “change and embellish” his story, a misconduct hearing found on Thursday.
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The confectionary stall at the station was set up to help aid a charity trip to Uganda, with snacks priced at 50p each.
PC Dwyer was found guilty of gross misconduct and given an instant dismissal, after joining the force in 2017.
Panel chairman Akbar Khan called PC Dwyer’s actions an “abuse of trust”.
The news of his dismissal has sparked a debate on social media, following greater attention and awareness of widespread sexual misconduct in the police force.
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On Monday, Channel 4 aired a Dispatches documentary, Cops on Trial, about police sexual impropriety.
The thorough inquiry which comes in the wake of Sarah Everard's tragic murder at the hands of serving officer, Wayne Couzens.
The documentary offered up some eyebrow-raising figures, including the fact that 2,000 police officers, specials and community support officers have faced accusations of sexual impropriety while in their roles.
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The allegations, raised over the past four years, include 370 incidents of sexual assault, 100 accusations of rape and 18 child sex offences, and span across every force in the country.
Perhaps most harrowingly, though, a Freedom Of Information Request from the programme found that just eight per cent of claims led to dismissal.
“Glad they are taking Jaffa Cake theft as seriously as officers sexually harassing women,” wrote one woman on Twitter, while a second Twitter user quipped: “In my next life I want to come back as a Jaffa cake because then I’ll be safer than I am as a woman.”
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A third user reacted to the ruling, writing: ‘Jaffa Cake theft is taken more seriously and has received a harsher punishment than rape culture, misogyny, and accusations of sexual misconduct. What the actual f***.”
Another woman said: “Non sackable offences: Indecent exposure. Sexual assaults. Intimidation.
"Sackable offences: knowingly underpaying 0.90p for Jaffa cakes.
“Great logic. I feel so much safer.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: News