Police recruits in new 'sex scandal'

Two Metropolitan Police recruits are facing the sack after claims of "inappropriate" sexual behaviour.

Three young female recruits, one of whom is said to have been groped on a Tube station escalator, are the alleged victims of the trainees.

Both have been suspended and removed from the training programme at Hendon pending an inquiry into the claims and a disciplinary hearing in January.

The incident is the latest example of what Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens has condemned as the "Ibiza culture" at Britain's biggest police training school, which has become notorious for heavy drinking and claims of lurid sexual activity.

One of the two recruits faces seven charges under the discipline code. The most serious is an allegation of inappropriate behaviour involving a female recruit. She is said to have been standing on an escalator when she felt someone grab her thong and pull it up hard. When she turned round she is said to have seen the two trainee policeman standing behind her laughing.

Other female recruits claim they endured unacceptable sexist remarks en route from Hendon to training sessions at Mill Hill barracks. The latest incident comes as senior management at Hendon has attempted to clamp down on the antics of recruits and some staff.

Earlier this year an instructor at Hendon was cleared of indecently assaulting two female colleagues but his trial exposed a culture of sex and binge drinking at the college.

Harrow Crown Court heard how a group of female officers kept a book naming colleagues they fantasised about and one exposed her breasts to male staff at a Christmas party.

That case came soon after recruit Spencer Harley was jailed for six years for raping a female colleague. After hearing of bed-hopping and binge drinking, Judge Barrington Black condemned Hendon's "lax and libertarian regime", where "morals flew out of the window".

In February the Yard agreed to pay ?200,000 compensation to a woman detective sergeant for sexual harassment and discrimination at Hendon.

Last month recruit Barry Falcone resigned after a disciplinary panel concluded he had racially abused a fellow trainee.

On the most recent case Scotland Yard said: "Two recruits were removed from training at Hendon following allegations of inappropriate sexual comment and behaviour towards female colleagues.

"They are suspended on pay and have been since October last year.

"Following an internal investigation by the Directorate of Professional Standards they will face a full misconduct hearing in January."