Detective Constable Rachel Fletcher of Northumbria Police has denied making comments that all men were rapists and that she suggested a curfew for males to prevent sex attacks, claiming the latter was a joke. She is also accused of making a derogatory remark about transgender women.
Allegations and Denials
At a misconduct hearing in Houghton-le-Spring, Det Con Fletcher admitted making the curfew comment but said it was in jest. She denied saying all men are rapists or describing transgender women as "c*cks in frocks".
She said: "I mentioned the male curfew as a joke. It's not a proposition that I would support in reality." She added: "My point was some men are capable of rape but you can't tell from looking which ones are which."
When asked if she would repeat the comment, she replied: "Would I make the same joke again? No I have ended up in a gross misconduct panel."
Evidence from Colleagues
Detective Constable Tina Brown told the hearing she had heard Det Con Fletcher say that "all men are rapists" and challenged her, saying her partner was male and not a rapist.
Det Con Fletcher's counsel, Naomi Cunninghham, described the claim as "absurd", saying her client had actually said all rapists are men. Det Con Fletcher said: "That's not what I said. I wouldn't have said all men are rapists because I don't believe that all men are rapists." She also denied the transphobic comment.
The hearing heard PC Kevin Thompson say Det Con Fletcher would make comments like "f***ing men" and "No wonder, a f***ing man done it". He said: "She would openly say she hates men. If a man had said it, it would be swiftly dealt with."
Det Con Fletcher said she hated male violence but not men: "But I have not said I hate men." She added: "I have been labelled as a man hater because I call out misogyny and I'm a feminist. The atmosphere is, if you call out misogyny, you hate men."
Hearing Continues
Det Con Fletcher faces allegations of sexist, inappropriate and offensive comments about men between February and December 2023, and a transphobic comment in January 2024. She is alleged to have breached standards of conduct, amounting to gross misconduct. The hearing continues.
