Ex-Police Federation chief made sexual comment about widow

The former head of the Police Federation has been found guilty of gross misconduct for making lewd remarks about the widow of Pc Andrew Harper.

Retired Pc John Apter was facing disciplinary proceedings from his former force for allegedly saying of grieving Lissie Harper: 'I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room.'

He made the 'sickening' comment at a ceremony in 2020, where Mrs Harper was due to collect a posthumous bravery award on behalf of her husband - who was dragged to his death by a getaway car he had tried to stop in 2019.

Apter had been due to present Mrs Harper with the award and was accused of leaving his colleagues shocked by his comment to them.

Hampshire Constabulary disciplinary tribunal's legally qualified chair Giles Pengelly said: 'We find the comment made about Lissie Harper proved and is proved to the level of gross misconduct.'

The panel ruled Apter made the comment in a staff 'huddle' during preparations for the awards ceremony.

Apter kept a blank face as the decision was announced. He is set to be sanctioned today.

Apter was cleared of two further charges of gross misconduct - allegations that he had groped a much younger female constable and made sexually inappropriate comments to a third woman.

The misconduct proceedings at Hampshire Constabulary's headquarters in Eastleigh heard the comments were allegedly made about Mrs Harper at the Annual Roads Policing Conference.

Apter gave a speech at the ceremony and handed Mrs Harper the posthumous award.

She last week described the comments as 'highly inappropriate'.

Mrs Harper became a campaigner after the death of her hero husband, just four weeks after they got married.

She was made an MBE last year for her work to get Harper's Law introduced into statute, ensuring the killers of emergency workers on duty now face a mandatory life sentence.

During the misconduct proceedings, Cecily White, representing the force, set out the circumstances in which the remark was made.

She told the hearing: 'It was about the widow of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in the line of duty.

'His widow, Lissie Harper, was due to attend an awards ceremony to accept a posthumous award on behalf of her husband.

'In the context of a discussion about her attending the event, which would have been quite stressful for her, he said 'I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room', with an obvious sexual connotation.'

It was also heard that Apter was heard saying 'I wouldn't mind looking after her tonight' in relation to Mrs Harper.

The comment was met by an 'awkward' reaction, the panel heard.

Giving evidence, Apter denied making the comment - insisting that, at most, he would have only been trying to ensure Mrs Harper was properly supported during the evening.

He said any suggestion that he made a sexually inappropriate mark about Mrs Harper was 'deeply offensive'.

The panel cleared Mr Apter of a second allegation that he said in early 2019 to a pregnant Police Federation colleague: 'Maybe you'll get a bum now.'

And the panel also cleared the 55-year-old, who served as an officer for 30 years, of an allegation that he had touched the bottom of a woman, referred to as Female A, at a restaurant while visiting London for the National Police Bravery Awards in December 2021 before asking her: 'Is that okay?'

Apter, who enjoyed a 30 year career in policing, was chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales from 2018 to 2021.

The association represents the interests of over 130,000 rank and file officers.

As an officer, he served for Hampshire Constabulary.