Former police officer barred from policing for using controlling and coercive behaviour

Former PC Abigail Barlow (21/09/1990) pleaded guilty on 13 December 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 Tuesday 17 January 2023.

An Accelerated Misconduct Hearing today (Friday 21 July 2023) 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 20 January 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: https://www.gmp.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/c/af/complaints/ Reports can also be made anonymously via Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or 0800 555 111.