Serving Met Police officer jailed for ABH and controlling behaviour

PC Jamie Rayner, 27, attached to the South Area Command Unit, appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 8 September and pleaded guilty to both charges. | Met Police

PC Jamie Rayner carried out his crimes just days after fellow Met officer Wayne Couzens was arrested for Sarah Everard’s murder.

A serving Met Police officer has been jailed for two years and three months actual bodily harm and engaging in coercive behaviour.

PC Jamie Rayner carried out his crimes just days after the Met had been engulfed in shame with the arrest of officer Wayne Couzens for the murder of Sarah Everard.

The 27-year-old was part of the South Area Command Unit, which polices Bromley, Croydon and Sutton.

He was arrested on March 24, and shortly afterwards charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour.

Scotland Yard said the crimes happened off duty, between March 18 and 21.

That was just days after all eyes had been on the Met, following the arrest of Wayne Couzens for Sarah Everard’s murder.

The Met gave no further details on PC Rayner’s crimes, however it said he had been suspended from duty and will face misconduct proceedings.

He admitted the charges at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on September 8, and was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment

Ch Supt Dave Stringer, in charge of policing Bromley, Croydon and Sutton, said: “PC Rayner’s actions are totally unacceptable and fall far short of the standards we expect in our organisation.

“Moreover, this shocking behaviour undermines the public’s confidence and trust.

“No one should be in any doubt that my officers and I are completely committed to investigating cases of controlling and coercive behaviour and, as in this case, will provide specialist support to those who come forward and report this type of crime.”

The senior officer said the case showed that Scotland Yard would take victims of police misconduct and crime seriously.

He added: “I have no doubt that it might be difficult or frightening to come forward but I want anyone who has experienced this to know that we will take your report seriously, and do everything in our power to help.

“All of us in the Met know we need to continue to build public confidence in this area, and we will deal with issues which involve police officers in a robust and transparent way through criminal and misconduct routes.”

The sentencing of PC Rayner comes as the Met revealed its action plan for keeping women and girls safe.

It said it was considering giving officers QR codes on their warrant cards, which could be scanned by the public to check they are legitimate.