Ex-Police chief denies sexual comment to PC Andrew Harper's widow

The former head of the Police Federation today denied making sexual comments about PC Andrew Harper's widow - insisting he was only offering to support her.

Retired PC John Apter is facing gross misconduct proceedings from his former force for allegedly making ‘sickening’ remarks about Lissie Harper at an awards dinner.

He is alleged to have told appalled colleagues: ‘I’d like to comfort her in my hotel room.’

Mrs Harper had been due to collect a posthumous bravery award on behalf of her husband - who was dragged to his death by a getaway car he had tried to stop in 2019 - at the ceremony in 2020.

Apter is also accused of groping a much younger female constable and making sexually inappropriate comments towards a third woman on a separate occasion.

Giving evidence in his defence today, Apter said his comments about Mrs Harper was a misunderstanding of a comment made after they were sat on the same table.

He admitted it was 'not inconceivable' he could have said 'I'll look after her at the dinner table' but said any suggestion he made a sexually suggestive remark was 'deeply offensive'.

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The misconduct proceedings at Hampshire Constabulary’s headquarters in Eastleigh have heard the comments were allegedly made at the Annual Roads Policing Conference.

Apter gave a speech at the ceremony and handed Mrs Harper the posthumous award.

In his evidence, Apter said he was 'really concerned' about Mrs Harper's attendance, which came just five months after her husband's death and funeral.

‘There was emotion anyway but it was a very emotional time,’ he said.

‘I was very concerned our attempts to do something positive could re-traumatise.

‘I was really worried.

‘Lissie Harper was forefront in my mind.’

The hearing was told a 'huddle' took place where PC Apter sought 'reassurances' that enough measures were in place to support Mrs Harper and general logistics.

‘I remember I was really insistent that the support must be in place for Lissie,’ he told the panel.

He told the hearing the group were 'engaged' with planning to help Mrs Harper with support.

On what was said at this meeting, he said: ‘I know what I didn't say.’

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When asked to expand further, he said: ‘I certainly didn't say anything in a sexually inappropriate way and certainly not in a hotel room about a hotel room.

‘Absolutely not, absolutely not.

‘I accept that in the conversation , I was really insistent about the support that was going to be in place.

‘The only think I have reflected on is that Lissie was on my table.

‘Prior to this, I would have wanted to meet her if not at the reception then prior to that.

‘At the dinner table it's not inconceivable I could say “I'll look after her at the dinner table”.’

Asked if there would be any 'sexual element' to the comment, he responded: ‘No.

‘All of this is deeply upsetting, but with Lissie Harper and what she has been through and to have this allegation is deeply offensive.

‘All of the allegations are but this one and the impact of such an allegation, not on me, but on Lissie and her family would have been horrific.

‘But at no time did I say anything in my mind that could even be misinterpreted as something sexual.’

He told the panel after the awards evening, Mrs Harper reached out to him afterwards, 'thanking' him for the evening.

‘I knew Lissie was really passionate about putting things in place about support,’ he said.

‘She asked about keeping in touch, which she did.

‘I wouldn't say friendship, but I had a great deal of respect for Lissie and her family.’

He told the hearing they would go on to meet a 'few times' in support for what eventually became Harper's Law - which introduced mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted of killing an emergency worker whilst committing a crime - which he was 'really proud of'.

‘We became professionally close,’ he added.

‘Which is why this has been so painful because that closeness was severed when she was notified about the allegations against me.’

Apter also disputed the other allegations against him.

Apter is accused of acting in a sexually inappropriate manner towards two women, including sexually touching a much younger constable on her bottom while whispering: ‘Is that ok?’

On another occasion, it is alleged, Apter said to a pregnant woman working at the Police Federation: ‘Maybe you’ll get a bum now.’

On whether he made the 'bum' comment to his pregnant colleague, he said: ‘Absolutely not.

‘No and it would have been, firstly a deeply offensive, illogical comment.

‘I wouldn't have made it anyway, but [the colleague] being a member of the team even more so, it just would not be in my vocabulary to speak to a colleague like that or say anything like that.’

On whether a separate male colleague, who is alleged to have been in the room at the time, had said it, he continued: ‘No, I never heard [him] with [the colleague] say anything remotely similar to this.

‘Obviously if I had it would have been challenged.’

PC Apter also denied being drunk at a police night out before the Police Bravery Awards in London in December 2021, where he said comments of him drinking from a hip flask were a 'complete lie'.

PC Apter, who enjoyed a 30 year career in policing, was chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales from 2018 to 2021.

The association represents the interests of over 130,000 rank and file officers.

As an officer, he served for Hampshire Constabulary.

He denies three counts of gross misconduct. The hearing continues.