Ex-police officer pleads guilty to using controlling and coercive behaviour
Date published: 24 July 2023
The offences took place between June 2016 and October 2020, in which Barlow was emotionally abusive and used violence
A former police officer has been barred from policing for using controlling and coercive behaviour.
Former PC Abigail Barlow (aged 32), who is believed to be from Oldham, pleaded guilty on December 13, 2022 to using coercive and controlling behaviour against her former partner.
The offences took place between June 2016 and October 2020, in which Barlow was emotionally abusive and used violence.
Barlow was sentenced to 26 weeks custody, suspended for two years.
She also received 30 days rehabilitation, 200 hours unpaid work and a restraining order at Mold Magistrates Court on Monday, July 10, 2023.
An Accelerated Misconduct Hearing on Friday (July 21) ruled that Barlow’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
The hearing was chaired by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who said that Barlow’s actions breached the standards of professional behaviour expected of a police officer.
The hearing was told that Barlow, who was a PC on the Wigan district, would have been dismissed had she still been serving. Barlow resigned from the force on January 20, 2023.
Barlow has been added to the College of Policing Barred List.
CC Watson said Barlow’s culpability was regarded as 'high’ due to her 'unacceptable catalogue of cruel, coercive and violent behaviour’.
CC Watson said: “Barlow's actions were deliberate, unforced, repeated and carried out in the full knowledge that her conduct was both patently unlawful and morally reprehensible.
"Barlow's conduct and conviction inevitably brings the profession into disrepute and undoubtedly damages the confidence that the public might wish to otherwise place in their police officers.
"The criminal behaviour took place over a prolonged period of time and constituted a destructive and regular pattern of behaviour.
"It resulted in serious psychological harms and rendered the victim especially vulnerable."
GMP’s Professional Standards Branch can be contacted via the force’s website here
Reports can also be made anonymously via Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.
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