Woman police barred from using force for ‘brutal, coercive and violent’ campaign of domestic abuse against her partner
A female former police officer has been banned from the force after a ‘cruel, coercive and violent’ campaign of domestic abuse against her partner.
Abigail Barlow, 32, was banned as a Greater Manchester Police constable after her partner subjected her to ‘sustained’ abusive behaviour, a misconduct hearing heard.
Barlow pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behavior in December 2022 and was given a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years in January when he resigned.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said his actions were ‘inconsistent with the role of a police officer’ and had undermined public confidence in the force.
He added that Barlow’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct and that he would have been dismissed from the force if he had not already resigned.
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Abigail Barlow (pictured), 32, was banned as a Greater Manchester Police constable after subjecting her partner to ‘sustained’ abusive behaviour, a misconduct hearing heard.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said his actions were ‘inconsistent with the role of a police officer’ and had undermined public confidence in the force. Photo: GMP Headquarters
Gareth Madgwick, solicitor representing GMP, said Barlow ‘must have been aware of the serious impact his behavior had on his partner’. ‘There has been regular, repeated or sustained behavior over a period of time,’ he said.
Mr Madgwick told the hearing that Barlow’s actions had a ‘serious emotional impact’ on his victim, adding: ‘Public confidence in policing has been damaged by an officer being found guilty of such a serious offence.’
The exact nature of Barlow’s crime was not made public at the hearing.
Chief Constable Watson said: ‘Ms Barlow was specifically trained to target and combat the behaviors she had been engaging in for a long time.
‘His level of knowledge of the effects of domestic violence was such that his misconduct should be regarded as particularly serious.’
He also said Barlow should be added to the College of Policing banned list, describing his ‘cruel, coercive and violent behaviour’ as ‘more than a simple error of judgement’. ‘His forced resignation will benefit both the public and GMP,’ he added.
Barlow, of Clifton Street, Milnerrow, declined the opportunity to attend the hearing, represent the Police Federation or submit further mitigation to be considered.
He was given 30 days of rehabilitation, 200 hours of unpaid work and a restraining order.
Barlow declined to comment when approached by the Manchester Evening News after the hearing.
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