Victim woman arrested for reporting partner's abuse: 'He was an animal, he considered me not human but his slave'

A woman in the UK was not only arrested but also spent 18 hours in a cell after reporting domestic violence to the emergency services by her ex-partner and a police officer.

Eva (pseudonym) believes she was arrested by a police officer in West Mercia, UK, to prevent her from reporting psychological and financial abuse.

The BBC has learned that during the time Eva reported the police officer, a female officer who was in a relationship with the officer also made similar allegations against her.

West Mercia Police say the woman's arrest is being reviewed, but in both cases the officer's conduct was not investigated and no criminal activity was committed.

However, the BBC has also spoken to two other women who were in relationships with the officer and both said they had similar experiences of abuse from him.


In 2022, 15 West Mercia Police officers faced disciplinary action. Five of these were incidents of sexual abuse. Three of the 15 officers were fired while four resigned before being fired.


'He considered me a slave'

In January 2022, when Eva and the officer met and began their relationship, the beginning was good. Then within three months they decided to buy a house together.

But almost immediately after that, her attitude changed, Eva says.

She says that he thought that I would pay for his lifestyle and pleasures, he considered me not a human but his slave.

In October of that year, Eva ended her relationship with the police officer, but the two of them had to stay in the house while it was being sold. A month later, Eva reported the harassment and verbal and financial abuse of her police officer colleague to the police.

Although the situation Eva was in was "extremely unpleasant", West Mercia Police said their officer did not commit any criminal acts. At the same time, another female officer also reported the officer's abuse and forced control over her.

However, Murcia Police say that the officer's behavior was deemed acceptable and no disciplinary action was felt against him.

'He was an animal'
Eva said that in December 2022 she called 999 in fear but was arrested on suspicion of assault when officers arrived.

He believes that his ex-partner used his position to get him arrested and thrown out of the house.

"I was crying," Eva said. I don't know why I was caught, I don't know what she said to them. All I knew was that he was an animal who did all this to me because I was innocent.'

She was later granted bail, but she says she could not go home for four weeks.

The case against him was also dropped after the officer withdrew the charges against him.
One of the other women the BBC spoke to about the officer said he should not be in the police. They (police) are trained and know what is expected of them, he said. He should not wear a badge.

Another former colleague of the police officer told us that he still fears him.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he understood that some victims of domestic abuse did not feel comfortable reporting their experiences to the police.

Superintendent Mo Lonsdale, head of West Mercia Police Professional Standards, said: 'We take reports of domestic abuse by police officers incredibly seriously and investigate all incidents thoroughly without fear or favour.'
Eva is in disbelief when her ex-partner is promoted to the police force.

"He uses his power," she says. I don't think the police helped me. When I called for help, no one came to help me, instead they came and arrested me.