A senior police officer known for his role on the Channel 4 television series 'Hunted' has been suspended for ten months following serious allegations of sexist behaviour towards junior female colleagues.
Allegations of Discriminatory Conduct
Sergeant Shazad Sadiq, a 49-year-old temporary inspector with Durham Constabulary, was suspended on full pay in February. The force's Professional Standards Department launched an investigation into claims his comments could amount to gross misconduct, and the probe remains ongoing.
It is alleged that Sgt Sadiq told three female Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) he did not expect them to have accounts on the adult subscription site OnlyFans. The women claim they were singled out, with male colleagues on the same shift not receiving similar warnings.
Pattern of Inappropriate Remarks
Further accusations detail a pattern of derogatory behaviour. A source states Sgt Sadiq made a comment to a female police constable about her inability to 'hide her sexuality', while allegedly gesturing with his hands down her body.
In a separate incident, he is said to have allocated the same officer to a case involving a woman regularly missing from home who was 'struggling with her sexuality'. Sgt Sadiq allegedly claimed the PC could 'relate' and be a 'motherly figure' due to her own sexuality.
The officer also accuses him of refusing her permission to pursue a Taser course, suggesting her 'hormones needed to settle' after returning from parental leave. Sgt Sadiq is understood to vehemently deny all allegations.
Long Career and TV Role Under Scrutiny
Sgt Sadiq has served as a police officer for 28 years, beginning with the Metropolitan Police before moving to Durham in 2001. He has held prominent roles, including general secretary of the National Black Police Association and chairman of the Durham Ethnic Minority Support Association.
His public profile increased in 2021 when he began appearing as a 'hunter' on Channel 4's Hunted, where ex-police and intelligence experts pursue contestants trying to evade capture for a cash prize.
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary confirmed: ‘In February, a sergeant was suspended pending an investigation into allegations surrounding potential breaches of standards of behaviour. That investigation remains ongoing.’ Channel 4 declined to comment.
